Ethiopia: Lalibela – Earthly Jerusalem Church Cluster

Lalibela holds 11 rock-hewn churches from the 12th century. They were all built and chiseled out of solid slabs of rock during the rule of King Lalibela who attempted to recreate Jerusalem in here. The first cluster of churches contains five buildings known as the “Earthly Jerusalem” aka the Northern Group. The world’s largest rock-hewn church is located here as well as the church holding the famous Lalibela Cross, a 7kg of pure gold which I actually got to see! All churches are connected by tunnels and passageways and you feel like you are Indiana Jones in search of a Holy Grail.
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