Traveling the route by air, road, or a combination of both, provides a glimpse into a remarkable past. The well- trodden path through Ethiopia’s fascinating historic places takes you through a magnificent, scenic world of legendary names such as Lalibela, Axum, Gondar, Debre Damo, Bahir Dar and Harar. The past comes alive in ruins. Ethiopia is truly a land of discovery – brilliant and beautiful, secretive, mysterious and extraordinary.

Yeha

Ethiopia’s historic route begins with a glance at the tantalizing remains of Yeha the center of the earliest civilization in northern Ethiopia. The journey takes you ion rough tracks through the dramatic highland scenery ending in a serene agricultural hamlet.

Yellow limestone ruins of the “Temple of the Moon’ date back to the 5th century BC. The edifice with its precise-fitting blocks of stone was built by the Sabaean civilization. Yeha is famed for its inscriptions and fine objects of bronze and other artifacts which have been excavated over the past century.

Blue Nile falls … Bahir Dar

Restorative work explains the Gondarene Character of some of the paintings found in the remarkable monasteries and churches on the islands of Lake Tana. The thirty-seven islands of Lake Tana shelter twenty monasteries – surviving remnants of an old, contemplative tradition.

The starting point of any visit to the Blue Nile falls, or to the islands of Lake Tana, is the bustling market town of Bahir Dar. The wide, palm-lined avenues and gardens over flowing with Tropical vegetation, and the variety of handicrafts and weaving centers make it a comfortable base for excursions – either by land or by water.

Lake Tana ….

Considered one of the most sacred islands on Lake Tana, Dega Estefanos, the Monastery of eek Stefanos has a priceless collection of paintings, icons and manuscripts, and the houses the mummified remains of a number of Ethiopian emperors.

Gondar

The graceful city of Gondar was founded by Emperor Fasiledas around 1635, famous of its many medieval castles and the design and decoration of its churches; Flanked by twin mountain streams Gondar retains an atmosphere of antique charm mingled with an aura of mystery. The city was once a vigorous and antique charm mingled with an aura of mystery.

The city was nice a vigorous and vital center of religious learning and art. For more than two hundred years skilled instruction in painting, music, dance, poetry and many other disciplines thrived. Fasilidas and his successors saw their elegant capital as a phoenix and so patronized the arts. The so-called Bathing palace of Emperor Fasilidas is filled with water every year for the Timket Ceremony.

Axum

The northernmost stop along the route, Axum is the site of Ethiopia’s most ancient city and is renewed for its cathedral of St. Mary of Zion where, it is calmed; the original Ark of the Covenant is housed. Axum is also famous for its seven mysterious and ancient monolithic steles, all hewn from single pieces of granite, some of which are carved with images of doors and windows. The biggest, 33 meters long and weighing over 500 tones, was the largest monolithic in the world, but fell at some remote period in the past.

Now a small town, surrounded by dry hills, Axum still yields evidence of the splendors and pageantry of its glorious pas; a wealth of temples, fortresses and rich palaces.

Adding substance to ancient legends of fire-breathing monsters and testifying to the lost truths embedded in myths and fables, the bones of bygone eras protrude everywhere through the soil. Even today, long buried hordes of gold, silver and bronze coins are exposed by heavy down drops of rain.

Lalibela

The last stop on the circular historic route is Lalibela, Known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. This is legendary city carved from solid rock. It is just as remarkable close up as it is a distance. It is the camouflaged, chameleon quality; however, that gives the remote underground settlement its special and lasting place in the life of the highlands. Here, some 800 years ago, safe from the prying eyes and plundering hands of hostile interlopers a noble king fashioned a secret marvel. Lalibela, previously known as Roha, is named after the king. Legend says that the churches were built at great speed with the help of angels working day and night.

Harar

No journey along Ethiopia’s fabled historic route would be complete with out a visit to the medieval walled city of Harar which stands amid green mountains on the east wall of the Great Rift Valley. Harar has managed to retain the charm of its medieval character and past glory. The cultural diversity is best expressed in the old market and Grand Mosque (Al-Jami), which dominates the center of the city. Near the Mosque stands the imposing octagonal cathedral of Medhane Alem, which contains a gallery of traditional religious works. Harar is a city where tall, graceful maidens in long, extravagantly flowing colored dresses come to barter and buy amongst the elegant Moorish archways.

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