Gondar City Tour

After arriving in Gondar, Chelo decided to rest at the hotel. So the local guild and I went for lunch in a family restaurant before setting off on a city tour.
First stop was the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie, which is famous for its religious wall paintings and iconic ceiling depicting the faces of angels.
Then we visited the Royal Enclosure, which was undergoing considerable restoration. Here, the guide and I shared a typical coffee while he explained a little of the history of the five castles. These were built by a succession of Ethiopian Kings, beginning in the early 17th century. Although badly damaged by air raids back in WW2, the enclosure is now listed as a UNESCO Heritage site.
Then we walked down through the city centre and onto the bathhouse of King Fasilides, which serves as a baptismal pool during the Epiphany celebrations every January.
This large bathing pool is filled from a local river, with the royal house standing at its center and surrounded by a wall with some amazing trees overgrowing the structure.
An interesting visit to this fascinating old city.Read more