Adadi Mariam is a Churche that is dug out of the earth, Chisled and cut out of a single rock. Ethiopian has a long standing tradition making rock cut churches in remote locations. This tradition is mainly shown in the rock cut churches of Tigray and Lalibela. Lalibela Churches are said to be the most famous with its iconic cross shape St. George church.
Adadi Maryam is built by the Ethiopian king Lalibela who is credited for his Beautiful 11 Rock Hewn Laibela churches In North of the country. He built curch of Adadi Mariam on his Visit to a holly Man on Mount Zikuala in the 12th C. The church was abandoned for 300 years after the Muslim’s invasion of the area.
On the way to Adadi Mariam we also have a chance to visit the pre-historic archeological site of Melka Kunture, and the stelea field of Tiya (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Tiya is a Unesco recorded world heritage site Known for its stelae Erected By mysteries Communities of the southern Ethiopian Tribes in the 12th C. It is believed to be a Burial place of Heroesof Unkown people o rtribes. There is little known facts about the people who built this mysteries objects. No one knows who they are where they come from why there are buried there.
At Melka Kuntre pre historic we will visit an Open air Museum to see where our Homind ancestors used to make stone tools and use it for their daily life.
Itinerary
1 Our driver and Guide will meet you at your Hotel, Home Or Addis Ababa Bole airport Airport (ADD)
2 Collect picnic lunch, we will stop at a super market or fast food. We can buy some pick nick lunch as there is no much a place where you can eat.
3 Drive out of the city. The drive is not much but to get out of the city there is a bit of traffic. We will drive to west southern side of Addis Ababa and drive to South.
4. At 55 Km we will find melka kuntre Archeological site. The site is on the side of road and easy to reach. First we will visit the museum where there is extensive exhibit about paleontology and the Stone tools that are found in the area. Then we will walk in to the open air museum to see a place where hominids make stone tools, where the might live and a butchery area where they cut meats of their killings.
5 Drive for few minutes and turn to left in gravel road to reach rock cut churches of Adadi Mariam. Adadi Maryam church is still an active church that belongs to Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Please note it is advised for women’s to have scarve on their head to give respect when they enter in to the church.
6 have picnic lunch before we drive to Tiya.
7 Drive about 35 KM to reach Tiya. A mysterious place where history is also buried and calls for someone to dig and find out.
8 Drive back to Addis Ababa as we enjoy the country side and see the life of ordinary farmers doing their daily activity.
9 drop of at your Hotel, places or you want
