AfricaEthiopiaAmhara
Lalibela
Amhara, Ethiopia · Africa
About Lalibela
Lalibela sits on the route: 55 minutes from Filakit.
Lalibela is in Amhara, Ethiopia, with about 39,000 people. The nearest town is Filakit, about 49 km away.
Lalibela (Amharic: ላሊበላ, romanized: Lalibäla) is a town in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Lasta district and North Wollo Zone, it is a tourist site for its famous rock-cut monolithic churches designed in contrast to the earlier monolithic churches in Ethiopia. The whole of Lalibela is a large andRead more
important site for the antiquity, medieval, and post-medieval civilization of Ethiopia. To some Christians, Lalibela is one of Ethiopia's holiest cities, and a center of pilgrimage.
Ethiopia was one of the earliest nations to adopt Christianity in the first half of the 4th century, and its historical roots date to the time of the Apostles. The churches themselves date from the 7th to 13th centuries, and are traditionally dated to the reign of the Zagwe (Agaw) king Gebre Meskel Lalibela (r. c. 1181–1221).
The layout and names of the major buildings in Lalibela are widely accepted, especially by local clergy, to be a symbolic representation of Jerusalem. This has led some experts to date the current church construction to the years following the capture of Jerusalem in 1187 by the Muslim leader Saladin.
Lalibela is roughly 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) above sea level. It is the main town in Lasta, which was formerly part of the Bugna district. The rock-hewn churches were declared a World Heritage Site in 1978.
The best time to visit the city is during the dry season from October to March, when weather conditions are most favorable for exploring the temple complex. During this period, the city is especially crowded during major religious festivals, particularly Genna (January 7) and Timkat (January 19), when religious services are accompanied by multi-day processions, traditional music, and rituals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lalibela?
Lalibela is in Amhara, Ethiopia, about 49 km from Filakit.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 39,100
- Continent
- Africa
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Region
- Amhara
- Timezone
- Africa/Addis_Ababa
- Coordinates
- 12.0322, 39.0476
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When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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