The origins of this ancient city are lost in legend.
About one thousand years before Christ it is known that some tribes originally from southern Arabia settled on this side of the Red Sea; one of these tribes was known as the Habasciat (the possible origin of the name Abyssinia).
This particular area is however linked to the legend of the enchanting queen of Sheba, who, after having met King Solomon in Jerusalem, on her return gave birth to Menelik I, who was the founding father of the family known as the Kings of Kings.
Local legend recounts how in the first century A.D., Axum was founded by the brothers Abreha and Atseha; it is not until midway through the fourth century that we have records of the first historical king, Ezana. The latter converted to Christianity after the arrival of Ferremnatos (Frumezio), who was sent by the patriarch of Alexandria and who later became the national saint, Abba Salame, Father of Peace.



Axum was the capital city of the longstanding Axumite kingdom, one of the most ancient African kingdoms, and represented a vital crossroads between Africa and Asia for almost a thousand years.
The ruins still visible in Axum stand as testimony to an exceptionally high level of civilisation, notably the stone monoliths which are dotted throughout the city and are among the most mysterious monuments in the world.
Axum is also the site of the church of Enda Mariam Sion, in front of which kings were crowned even as late as the last century. Inside, there are displays of golden crowns and crosses, the latter of which are still used during the major festivals of the Coptic church.
Legend has it that the original Ark of the Covenant is housed in a chapel near the church. The Ark is believed to have been brought back by the Queen of Sheba on her return from Jerusalem.

Gondar was founded by the emperor Fasilidas in 1636 and was the capital of the country for the next two centuries. The city contains a dozen castles built by the various emperors over the course of 236 years.
Gondar seems more European than African and has some Islamic influences.
Besides the castles, baths and houses of Fasilidas, another noteworthy sight is the church of Debre Berham Selassiè (Light of the Trinity), which is located on the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls. The interior is decorated with beautiful frescos dating back to the 16th century.

BAHIR DAR, THE WATERFALLS OF THE BLUE NILE AND LAKE TANA

Bahir Dar is a pleasant city, its avenues lined with palm trees and plants. It is located on the south bank of Lake Tana. Of note are its main market and the former palace of Hailè Selassiè, from which there is a splendid view over the Nile valley.
Just 30 km from the city are the waterfalls of the Blue Nile or "Tis Isat" (smoking water), which in 1770 were described by the English explorer Bruce James as follows:
"the river […] fell in a single stream of water about half a mile wide […] with a force and noise that was truly terrible. An intense steam, almost a fog, completely surrounded the waterfall […]. It was a magnificent spectacle".

Excursions may be made from Bahir Dar to explore the islands of Lake Tana. There are 37 islands dotted all over the lake and 30 of them house churches and monasteries of great cultural and historical interest. They contain beautiful manuscripts, objects of worship and crosses dating back to the dawn of Christianity.
Of particular note are: the island of Zeghè with the monastery of Ura Kidane Meret and the church of Beta Giorgis, the monastery on the island of Narga Selassie (Dek), the monastery on the island of Dega Estefanos (accessible only to men), and the monastery on the island of Kebran Gabriel, which is one of the most fascinating on the lake (also accessible only to men).

LALIBELA

The city of Lalibela is located at a height of 2,600 m above sea level and, together with Axum, is one of the two most important holy cities in Ethiopia.
The city was constructed by king Lalibela of the Zague dynasty around the time of the fall of the Axum empire in the 13th century. It was built in order to become the "new Ethiopian Jerusalem" and is characterised by its eleven churches carved out of the pink granite rock of the mountain. The churches are divided into two groups according to their location with respect to the river Jordan and are connected to each other by means of narrow underground passages. Each church has its own unique architectural style; all are superbly sculpted and most are decorated with well-preserved paintings.
The entire city may be considered a work of sculpture dedicated to the glory of God. It is has been classified as one of the wonders of the world and is protected by Unesco.

TIGRAI, DEBRE DAMO AND THE RUPESTRIAN CHURCHES

The monastery of Debre Damo is located 86 km to the north-east of Axum on the peak of Debre Damo at a height of 2,800 m above sea level and is one of the most important holy places of Ethiopia.
Local legend has it that the monastery was founded by Abuna Aregavi, one of the nine saints, with the aid of a serpent.
There are still some 80 monks living there and access to the monastery itself is gained by climbing up with the help of a rope (only men are permitted to enter).

Between the cities of Adigrat and MaKallè there are over one hundred rupestrian churches, including some that are older than the churches in Lalibela. Most are carved out of the rocky walls of pre-existing caves. Local tradition attributes most of the churches to the Axumite kings Ezana and Atsbeha of the fourth century, but historians are convinced that they date from a later period.
One of the most famous of the churches, Abuna Yemata Gheralta, may be reached only after a climb of about an hour - the willingness to undertake which is said to be "proof that you truly believe in God". The church is famous for its extraordinary view and for the splendid frescos it contains dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, which are well preserved.
Abraha Atsaha and Cherkos Wukro are two of the most accessible churches. The former is dedicated to the brothers Abreha and Atsheha, the mythical founders of the Axumite kingdom. The church is noteworthy for its structure and the fine frescos it contains.
Cherkos Wukro is located 500 metres from the village of Wukro and is dedicated to St. Cyriacos. Although damaged, it too contains Axumite friezes of great interest.

THE SIMIEN NATIONAL PARK

'Simien' means 'north' in Amharic. Six hundred million years ago, the mountains were an enormous volcanic mass; rain and ice have carved deep fissures into them and rivers have continued the work of erosion, creating an incredible landscape: peaks and deep gorges. In the steep slopes may be seen the Walia, the ibex of the Simien Mountains.
The park extends over the entire mountain mass of the Simien, the highest peak of which is Ras Dajen at 4430 m , the fourth highest mountain in Africa.
Besides the Walia, other protected species in the park are the rare Abyssinian fox and the gelada baboon.