Lalibela

Nestled in the rugged highlands of northern Ethiopia, Lalibela stands as a testament to human faith and ingenuity. This small town is home to 11 medieval monolithic churches, each carved entirely out of a single block of living rock in the 12th and 13th centuries during the reign of King Lalibela.

According to legend, King Lalibela had a vision in which he was instructed to build a new Jerusalem after the original fell to Muslim conquest. What makes these churches truly remarkable is not just their age, but the method of their construction—they were carved from the top down, with workers chiseling away the surrounding rock to reveal the structures within.

The most famous of these churches is Bete Giyorgis (Church of St. George), carved in the shape of a cross and standing 40 feet tall. Other notable churches include Bete Medhane Alem, believed to be the largest monolithic church in the world, and Bete Maryam, known for its beautiful interior decorations.

Beyond their architectural significance, these churches remain active places of worship, particularly during major religious festivals like Ethiopian Christmas (Genna) and Timkat (Epiphany), when thousands of white-robed pilgrims journey from across Ethiopia to pray and celebrate in these ancient sanctuaries.