Gondar

Gondar is a royal and ancient historical city in Ethiopia. It was the home of many emperors and princesses who led the country from the 12th century to the last decade of the 20th Century. It is also the home of the highest mountain in Ethiopia, Ras Dashen, and the Simien Mountains National Park, all to be enjoyed on an Ethiopian vacation. Gondar Castle, dubbed the Ethiopian Camelot, is not a single castle, but instead is the name given to the entire complex of castles and palaces in the area. Some of these are Fasilides Castle built in 1640 as the home of King Fasilides and Iyasu Palace, home of Iyasu I. An earthquake and bombings by the British destroyed its once ornate and lavish interior but the structure itself remains mostly intact and is the largest in the area.  

A short way out of town is Debre Birhan Selassie Church. It seems more like a fortress than a church at first glance. This is because the local churches were once vulnerable to attacks by the Sudanese. There are twelve towers guarding this church, each representing one of the twelve apostles. The church itself was built at the end of the 17th century and is worth a visit to see its amazing ceiling with intricately painted angels. There are also other religious images on the walls. Churches like this were once quite common in the area, but this is the only church to survive the Sudanese attacks making it even more of a treasure on an Ethiopian vacation.  

Gorgora is a beautiful small town on the northern shore of Lake Tana about 70 kilometres/43 miles from Gondar. It has some interesting relics from its brief time as Ethiopia's capital and the lack of tourists adds to its charm. It is also good for bird watching. There are a number of monasteries in the northern part of Lake Tana.