Lalibela - Ethiopia

For almost 800 years, this Ethiopian Jerusalem (built with the help of angels) has amazed its visitors.

An Ethiopian king created not only sculptures, but entire churches, not from blocks of marble, but from gigantic rocks nailed to the soil of his kingdom. The result was a set of indescribable wonders, which confuse those who haven't seen them live and astonish those who have the privilege of getting close to them.

No city compares to Lalibela, the greatest and most magical jewel in the crown that is Ethiopia.

If you want to disconnect from the world, this is your type of trip. Remember that it is not a destination for those looking for luxury, but it is certainly for those looking for one of the best destinations in Ethiopia.

The region that is now Ethiopia was once divided into several kingdoms. Between the years 1137 and 1270, one of these kingdoms was ruled by a dynasty called the Zagwe, whose most famous monarch was named Gebre Mesqel Lalibela.

What happened during those 133 years of Zagwe rule is still a mystery to historians because there are no scriptures about the time. But if his predecessors and successors left no traces, King Lalibela definitely did something memorable for posterity: the first of the 11 churches that today form a priceless ensemble for humanity, all excavated in rocks, from ground level downwards.

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As with any amazing work done so long ago, the construction of Lalibela's churches is surrounded by legends.

One is about the time it took for them to be ready. According to the most faithful, it was only 23 years, because angels worked at night, while thousands of workers rested from the day's work - a version obviously not accepted by scholars, not least because the styles of the churches are from different eras, going well beyond the reign of Lalibela.

Two other legends revolve around why they were built.

In the version focused on rationality, the king wanted to build a new Jerusalem there, so that his subjects would not have to die walking and facing dangers on their pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

In the magical version, the king was poisoned by a brother and, during the period in which he was between life and death, he received an order from God to build the new Jerusalem in his domains. In the end, he recovered and carried out the divine orders.

Whatever your preferred version, the truth is that King Lalibela started works that are unbelievable both for the grandeur and the daring of constructing buildings by excavating the ground, and for the beauty and richness of details taken from those rocks.

it is important to clarify: several guides and websites state that there are 12 churches in Lalibela, while others state that there are 11. This confusion happens because of Golgotha and Mikael churches, which can be considered a single set or two separate churches, depending on the interpretation of each person. As a reference, know that Unesco considers that there are 11.

Bet Medhane Alem (House Church of the Savior of the World)

Bet Maryam (Church of Mary)

Bet Golgotha & Bet Mikael or Bet Debre Sina (Mount Sinai Church)

Bet Meskel (Church of the Cross)

Bet Danaghel (Church of Virgins)

Beth Uriel

Bet Amanuel (Immanuel Church)

Bet Merkorios

Bet Abba Lebanon

Bet Gabriel-Rufael (Church of Gabriel and Raphael)

Bet Giyorgis (St George's Church)

The churches are separated into two groups: the northwest group (the top 6 in the list above) and the southeast group (the next 4).

The last one, Bet Giyorgis (St. George's Church), is isolated and the most impressive of all. It gives an exact idea of the colossus that are the churches of Lalibela.

Now that you've got all the tips, all you have to do is set up the itinerary, choose the accommodation using BITBOOK.NET, pack your suitcase and throw yourself into the charm of this amazing place.

I have no doubt that you will have unforgettable days. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments and we'll be happy to answer them!

Safe travel and enjoy this amazing place!