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Gondar was
founded by the emperor Fasiledas in 1636 and was the capital
of the country for the next two centuries.
The city’s main imperial precinct, known as the Royal
Enclosure, covers an area of 7.7 hectares and contains five
castles, raised walk ways and connecting tunnels surrounding
by high stone walls build in the mid-17th & 18th century; it
reflects a number of influences, Axumite, Portuguese and
Indian. Beside the royal enclosure, Visitors inspects the
Bathing palace of Emperor Fasiladas, which is used for the
annual Timket or Epiphany, celebration; the ruins of the
palace and abbey, of the redoubtable 18th centuries Empress
Mentewab at Quesquam ,the decorated church of Debre Berhan
Selassie, which the walls and ceiling are completely covered
in murals and the Felasha (Ethiopian Jews) village, though
vacated by almost all of its Felasha occupants.
Visitors could
make a day trip south to Gorgora, at the northern end of
Lake Tana, and visit the very fine and recently restored
medieval church of Debre Sina Mariam or a day trip or longer
treks in to the awe-inspiring Simien Mountains National
parks. (It is UNESCO’s World Heritage Site and Ethiopia’s
popular hiking destination.)
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