Addis Ababa

In 1887, Emperor MinilikII and his wife Empress Tayitu founded Addis Ababa, the capital of modern Ethiopia and the gateway for most tourists.
Nowadays Addis Ababa is the center of political, social, cultural and economic activities of Ethiopia. It enjoys the status of being the capital city of Africa by housing the seat of the African Union (AU), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), a number of Embassies and many other international organizations.

Addis Ababa, the extremely growing city, accommodates about 4 million people.
The altitude of the city ranges form 2200m at Filiwoha to 3200m above sea level at the tope of Entoto Mountain with temperature ranging from 150c-180c.


Addis Ababa is the focus of a highway network, the site of an international airport, and the terminus of a railroad to the port of Djibouti.
As a major international city, Addis Ababa offers a wide range of excellent accommodation ranging from luxury international hotels like Sheraton Addis and Hilton Addis to a good number of mid-priced onces like Ghion hotel, Imperial hotel and many budgets hotels.
The rich culture of Ethiopia, and its international links, have endowed the city with many fine restaurants and street side cafes, nightlife, including many cinemas, theatres, casinos and Bars that provide entertainment until the early hours.


The hospitality of its residents as well as the mix of culture, the breath of the cool and fresh air and, most of all, the tranquility that Addis Ababa offers make it a palatable destination for all sorts of visitors.


The National museum (where the ancestor of human kind, Lucy is displaced), Trinity Cathedral, the Ethnographic museum and Merkato, the largest open market in Africa, are some of the attraction sites that you can visit in Addis.

There is a saying that in Merkato you can find everything except the soul of human being.

Axum
Axum is the place where Ethiopian ancient civilization started before the 4th c A.D. At that time, Christianity was introduced to the kingdom of Axum and was first accepted by King Ezana, the ruler of the time.
Axum is regarded to be the spiritual home of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church with the church of Tsion Mariam where the true arc of covenant is believed to be found. The true arc of covenant was believed to be given to Menilik I, the son of King Solomon of Jerusalem and the Ethiopian Queen of Sheba.


Not far from Adigrat lies the monastery of Debre Damo, which is notable for its 6th century Axumite stone Church and for its impregnable Cliff tope position.

Lalibela

Lalibela, originally known as Roha, was named after Lalibela who was king as well priest. Lalibela is famous in the world because of its 12th c rock hewn churches. The largest monolithic rock-hewn church in Ethiopia as well as in the world is Bet Medhane Alem (saviour of the world) measuring 11.5m in height and covering an area of almost 800m2 . From Bete Medhane Alem a short tunnel leads to a second courtyard enclosing three more churches. The largest of these, Bet Mariam (house of the virgin) is thought to have been the first church built in Lalibela. Bet Mariam has a more intimate and elaborately carved interior, with carvings of the original Lalibela cross, of the Star of David and with dense paintings on parts of the roof. Carved into the northern wall of Bet Mariam's courtyard are Bet Danaghel and Bet Meskel. The pool in the courtyard is believed to cure any infertile woman who is deeped into the water three times on Ethiopian Christmas.


The third courtyard in the southwest cluster contains the twin churches of Bet Debresina and Bet Golgota. The Selassie chapel, which lies in Bet Golgota, is considered the holiest place in Lalibela and few visitors have ever been permitted to enter (women are not permitted at all).