Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, which means "New Flower" in Amharic, is an intriguingly indigenous African city. Unlike many other African capitals, its founding, growth and development are not rooted in colonization. Founded in 1887 by Emperor Menelik II, This big, sprawling, hospitable city is the third highest capital in the world found at 2400 meters above sea level (7,200-feet) high in the foothills of Mount Entoto and the panoramic view from the peak is spectacular.

Addis Ababa is a mix of the past and the present, sheep, cows and goats walking down the road, framed by skyscrapers in the background, the city and the small-town feel, the modern apartment buildings and the small houses with zinc roofs.

If you happen to be in Addis Ababa for some reason and have some leisure time; need no worry what to do, we are here to inform you some of the activities of Addis Ababa that are worth spending your time with. There are many interesting places to see in Addis Ababa and in the surrounding of Addis Ababa:-

NATIONAL MUSEUM

the exhibits includes the fossilized skeleton, and a plaster replica of the early hominid Lucy (known in Ethiopia as Dinkinesh) as well as other archaeological finds and historical relics.

ST GEORGE CATHEDRAL

Is found on the north end of Churchill road. The church was built in 1896 in the traditional octagonal shape to commemorate Ethiopian’s victory over Italian in the battle of Adwa. The cathedral houses the work of Afewerk Tekel, the renowned Ethiopian artists responsible for the stained glass windows of the Africa Hall. There is a small museum in the compound.

SELASSIE CHURCH (HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAl)

Holy Trinity Cathedral was once the largest Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral and It is the location of burial place of Sylvia Pankhurst alongside many well-known Ethiopians and the Patriots of the Italians occupation and the burial place of Emperor Haile Selassie and the Imperial family.

MERKATO

Merkato is the main market center of the country and is the biggest open market in Africa. The market is located is in Western Addis Ababa and serves as the primary retail, wholesale and distribution point of the city and the rest of the country.

MESKEL SQUARE

Is one of the noted squares in the city and is the site for the annual Meskel celebrations at the end of September annually when thousands gather to mark the date when the true cross of Christ was allegedly discovered by the mother of the Emperor Constantine, first Christian king of Rome.

LANDMARKS:

ABUNE PETROS SQUARE

Emperor Haile Selassie, upon his restoration to the throne, had a statue erected in memory of the great bishop Abune Petros who was martyred by the Italian occupiers. Abune Petros was one of the first four native Ethiopian who was martyred by the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria to serve under the Coptic born Archbishop Abune Kerllos of Ethiopia in 1936, the Fascist armies of Benito Mussolini occupied much of Ethiopia and Abune Petros travelled to the northern Showa district of Menz to join the sons of Ras Kassa. Dejazmatches Wondwossen. Abera and Asfa Wossen Kassa and other resistances leaders to plan and attack on the Italians to drive them out of Addis Ababa. The attack failed in 1937, and the bishop was captured. Defiantly refusing to Italian rule, he was condemned to death. The spot of his execution on the western edge of this square is also marked by a memorial slab.

MENELIK II SQUARE  

Hosts the statue of Emperor Menelik II erected by Emperor Haile Selassie on the day before his coronation to commemorate the victory of Adwa. The square is located outside the main gates of St. George Cathedral (Genete Tsege Menagesha Kidus Giorgis).

HAILE SELASSIE MEMORIAL (MEYAZIA 27 SQUARE)       

(Arat kilo) has a monument which commemorates the victory over the fascist Italian invaders, and the struggle against the occupying forces. Meyazia 27 in the Ethiopian calendar is the 5^th of May; the day that Addis Ababa was occupied by the Fascists as well as the day that Emperor Haile Selassie returned to his capital in triumph exactly five years later. The original monument includes a relief of the Emperor Haile Selassie holding the national flag which was altered during the reign of the Dergue regime but was later restored by the EPRDF government. 

LION OF JUDAH

The lion of Judah Monument stands at the square in from of Addis Ababa’s train station. Erected in 1930, just before Emperor Haile Selassie’s coronation, the statue was looted by the Italian occupiers in 1935 and taken to Rome, Where it was erected next to the Vittorio Emmanuelle Monument. During the 4^th anniversary celebrations of the proclamation of the Italian Empire. Adolf Hitler chose to visit Rome, and attended the celebratory parade alongside Mussolini and King Victor Emmanuelle III. In the parade were numerous sub-jects of Italy’s Africa Empire. Including a young officer Zerai Deres who was marching with other parade members carrying a ceremonial sword with which to salute the King. The Fuhrer and el Duce at the grand stand.

As the parade marched post the Vittorio Emmanuelle moument, Zerai looked up and saw to his surprise, the golden lion of Judah, the symbol of the ancient monarchy to which his ancestors had long owed allegiance erected as war booty in the heart of Rome. It was too much for him to bear and he promptly drew his sword and with tears of anger running down his face he fell on the first Italian officer he could find. He killed and wounded numerous Italian Military officers before he was killed. The name of Zerai Deres is forever etched on the history books as that of a brave Ethiopian patriot.

The lion of Judah monument remained in Rome for several decades and was finally returned to Ethiopia after prolonged negotiations in the 1960’s. The Emperor was present in military uniform to pay tribute to the memory of Zerai Deres when the statue was finally erected in its original square. The Military government, which deposed the Emperor, attempted to remove the statue as a symbol of the monarchy but was met with opposition from the veteran’s association which appealed to the memory of Zerai Deres who had been inspired by this very symbol. The statute was saved and remains in situ to this day.

Yekatit 12 (Martyrs square)

The Yekatit 12 Martyrs Square (Sidist Kilo) monument stands in tribute to he thousands of innocent martyrs butchered by the fascist Italian occupiers on Yekatit 12, 1992 in the Ethiopian calendar (1936 Gregorian calendar). The massacre took place at the order of the Italian vice Roy marshal Grazziani in response to an assassination attempt against him carried out by two patriots.