Lalibela

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Popular Best Things to Do in Lalibela [2025]

There are 11 churches carved out of a rocky mountain, which is a miracle in architectural history and a world cultural heritage of Ethiopia. It only takes one hour to fly from Addis Ababa to Lalibela. The ticket is $100, which is a bit expensive. Since you have flown here (the air ticket is also expensive), you might as well take a look.
In fact, if you don’t find a tour guide and walk around the town by yourself, you probably don’t need to buy a ticket. All the churches are open-air and you can see them all. It’s better to take pictures outside, there is nothing to see inside. The main theme of the interior decoration is thrifty [laughing and crying R]

There are 11 churches carved out of a rocky mountain, which is a miracle in architectural history and a world cultural heritage of Ethiopia. It only takes one hour to fly from Addis Ababa to Lalibela. The ticket is $100, which is a bit expensive. Since you have flown here (the air ticket is also expensive), you might as well take a look.
In fact, if you don&rsquo;t find a tour guide and walk around the town by yourself, you probably don&rsquo;t need to buy a ticket. All the churches are open-air and you can see them all. It&rsquo;s better to take pictures outside, there is nothing to see inside. The main theme of the interior decoration is thrifty [laughing and crying R]

The 11 medieval monolithic cave churches of this 13th-century &#39;New Jerusalem&#39; are situated in a mountainous region in the heart of Ethiopia near a traditional village with circular-shaped dwellings. Lalibela is a high place of Ethiopian Christianity, still today a place of pilmigrage and devotion.

Legend has it that in the 12th century, the seventh king of Ethiopia, Lalibela, received an oracle in his dream: &quot;Build a new Jerusalem in Ethiopia, and ask to build churches with a whole rock.&quot; So Lalibela, according to the oracle, spent 20,000 people and 24 years to carve out 11 rock churches on a rocky plateau at an altitude of 2,600 meters in northern Ethiopia. People called this place Lalibela. Since then, Lalibela has become a holy place for Ethiopians. To this day, believers gather here every January 7, the Ethiopian Christmas. These churches are located in huge deep pits in the rock. The finely carved churches are like huge sculptures, carved out of hard rock like the temples in Ellora. They have amazing exterior shapes and unique interior decoration. They are extraordinary products of the prosperity and development of Christian civilization in Ethiopia in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was built around 1000 BC and is known as the &quot;African Wonder&quot;. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1979.

As the home of the world-famous Lalibela Underground Churches, this town is more well-known to travelers than Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Even if you have seen the rock churches of Lalibela on TV and in books, you will be quite shocked when you walk in. These churches that are still in use are completely carved out of the rocks. They are magnificent and exquisite, and most of them are in excellent condition.

St. George&#39;s Church is the most photographed church in Lalibela. Except for the unprotected canopy, it is indeed a representative work of the entire church complex. Looking down from above, the church is in the shape of a cross. The groove design on it is not only beautiful but also can drain rainwater to avoid corrosion of the building.

The coffee produced in this country is very good, almost the best in the world. The coffee here is very cheap, almost free, as long as you want to buy it. Catholicism is the supreme doctrine of the country. There are many beautiful stained glass paintings in churches, which are no less than those in Europe.

Popular Best Things to Do in Lalibela [2025]

Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela

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