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.)
