Lalibela is one of the world’s greatest architectural achievements — eleven monolithic rock-hewn churches carved from living rock in the 12th century by King Lalibela, who sought to build a “New Jerusalem” in the mountains of northern Ethiopia. The churches are still active places of Orthodox Christian worship today, with monks and priests conducting daily services unchanged for 800 years.
The most famous is Bete Giyorgis (Church of St George) — a perfect Greek cross carved 12 metres deep into the ground, visible from above as a recessed cross surrounded by the red volcanic rock. Bete Medhane Alem is the world’s largest rock-hewn church. All eleven churches are connected by labyrinthine tunnels and passageways.
Lalibela was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The site is considered one of Africa’s greatest cultural and architectural treasures.