HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS

1. Axum:
An ancient capital of Ethiopia, Axum boasts of an extremely rich culture of civilization, symbolized by the remaining sites and treasures, most of which were constructed using concrete. The Axumite Empire (1st C BC – 9th C AD) was one of the four great empires of the world- it had great control over trade routes of the Read Sea and Indian Ocean; an economically, politically, and socially stable state stretching from Saudi Arabia to Central and Southern Africa. Christianity, coin mintage, a special language and a special alphabet are other reflections of Axum’s early civilization. Great sites to visit in Axum include: the great Steles, the earliest church in Africa, ancient underground tombs, and the ruins of the palace of the queen of Sheba.

2. The Ark of the Covenant:
The original Moses’s Ark of the Covenant believed that exists and still rests in Aksum. The presence of the Ark of the Covenant  is relate with the journey of  Menelik the I to Jerusalem,  on his journey  back to Ethiopia he brought the original Ark of the covenant to Ethiopia, ever since the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church believes that  the Ark of the Covenant has remained in Ethiopia. Now the Ark of the Covenant is kept in a small chapel in the courtyard of the Axum Zion church. This makes Aksum the holiest ground in Ethiopia.

3. Yeah:
is found 65KM east of Axum, yeah is an old temple which will go back to the 5th Century, yeah is one of the ancient modernization of the Ethiopia near by the old temple we will fine an old warehouse which has a collection of old Sabina inscription and other old parchments. 

4. Debre Damo:
25km from the town of Adigrat, there is a tabular mountain, on the top of the this tabular mountain the is an old 6th Century monastery, which was founded by one of the nine saint called Abune Argawi, the monastery is only allowed for male and it is hardly inaccessible, therefore to reach this monastery you need to be left up by the leather rope, this monastery has its own fest which will held on October 24, every year, and many pilgrims will garter from different parts of the country to celebrate this colorful ceremony.      

5. Tigray Rock Hewn Churches

6. Negashi:
It is an early settlement of the Muslim refugee, where the settle Islam was introduced to Ethiopia in 615 AD when the followers of Prophet Mohammed, including his wife sought refuge in Aksum. The king of Aksum welcomed them, respected their religion and offered them protection. Later on they settled in Negash, east of Tigray, which became the foundation and one of the most important places for the Islamic faith in Ethiopia.

7. Lalibella:
This small town, founded back in the 12th Century in the middle of the Lasta mountain chains, Is a of wonders and religious devotion. Proposed as the 8th wonder of the world by the UNESCO, the 11 rock-hewn churches of are the main attractions of Lalibella. Strongly allied with religious elders, King Lalibella expressed utmost wisdom in creating a “second Jerusalem” on the soils of Ethiopia. It is claimed that angels participated in the construction of these churches. Other attractions in Lalibella include built up caves and semi rock-hewn churches.

8. Gonder:
This is the 17th Century Ethiopian capital which has a great significance in the country’s history as it returned the idea of building permanent capitals after the long-practiced mobile-camp rule which had been used by a line of princes. Several majestic castles, built way back in an esteemed part of the town called the Imperial Castle Compound, speak out the glory of the kingdom that was. Attractions worth a visit include: the bathing castle of King Fasil, founder of Gondarine dynasty (1632); and the 17th Century Debrebirehan Silassie Church with uniquely painted ceilings and walls.

9. Bahir Dar:
Bahir Dar is a pleasant city located at 1,800 meters above sea level on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. The lake is endowed with 37 islands out of which 20 of them have got monasteries to some of which female are not allowed to visit. These islands serve as a repository of the wonderful 16th century mural paintings, crowns, crosses and many old church treasures.

10. Blue Nile:
Blue Nile is spectacular water falls which is found 30kms south of Bahir Dar. "Tiss Abay" Tiss Abay is small town where we take-off the vehicle and expected to walk the uphill for about 20-30 minutes to reach the best view point of the falls which has 45 meters deep and up to 400 meters wide during the rainy season (end June, July, August & September). 

11. Harar:
Founded in the 16th Century, Harar today happens to be the fourth most sacred land in Islam after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, with more than 50 mosques. Home to the Adare, Somali, Argoba and Qotu tribes, Harar stays an exemplary town for religious harmony between Muslim and Christian Ethiopians. The great walls surrounding the old Harar town, built by the Adare tribe to protect themselves against the attack of neighboring tribes, stands still as an attraction to reveal a great history. Harar is thus recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

12. Addis Ababa:
The capital of Ethiopia and an official capital of Africa, Addis Ababa is an important representation of Ethiopia on the African continent. It is host to continental and international organizations’ premises, such as the African Union (AU), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the United Nations Conference Hall.  Places to go in Addis Ababa include: the National museum, Ethnological museum, Postal museum and other museums; treasure-packed Orthodox.