Lalibela

The main attraction in Lalibela is the 11 monolithic and semi-monolithic churches, which were built in the late 12th and early 13th century. Monolithic churches, also known as rock-hewn, are made from one large block of stone. The rock is carved out, creating doors and windows, columns and the roof. Unlike a semi-monolithic church, when visiting one of Lalibela’s monolithic churches you’ll be able to walk around the church at the bottom where the church has been carved. The amazing structure of these ancient churches has been well preserved, with thousands of visitors arriving each year as tourists and pilgrims. They’re considered to be a “living heritage” rather than a museum and are still used today for worship and for other events, such as the baptism of boys 40 days after birth and girls 80 days after birth.

There’s an amazing feeling when you enter one of Lalibela’s churches. The atmosphere is peaceful and reverent, with the lingering notes of worship in the air. Visitors to these churches are reminded to be respectful of these holy places. The churches are assembled into three groups: Northern, Eastern, and the one church in the Western region of Lalibela. The churches are within easy walking distance of each other – you’ll be able to see them all in one to two days, depending how in awe you are of their magnificence. Start with the Northern group and then make your way down to the Eastern churches, finishing with a visit to Church of Saint George in the West. Consider hiring a licensed guide to take you on the tour – they have invaluable information about each church that you may not find in a guidebook.