Axum is a small city in the federal state of Tigray, Ethiopia. It is one of the most fascinating cities in the country, steeped in history and spirituality, being one of the most important pilgrimage sites.
This city was, centuries ago, the capital of a vast kingdom that stretched from Yemen to Sudan.
What to visit:
One of the first places to immerse yourself is in its Archaeological Park, declared a World Heritage Site. This archaeological site is full of stelae, tombstones dedicated to the great Axumite kings. Some of these are over 20 meters high and are of course beautifully decorated.
The Obelisk of Axum also stands out, a colossal monument full of symbolism and history, since it was transferred to Rome after the colonization of Ethiopia in 1937 and returned to the African country in recent years. It is a symbol of the legacy of the Axumite kingdom and one of the best known stelae in the entire city.
Similarly, you can visit the Archaeological Museum of Axum, this contains some of the most interesting pieces of the site. This is an essential visit to learn about the long and fascinating history of the Axumite kingdom.
And finally, the Church of Santa María de Sion, the most important temple in the whole country, inside it houses one of the most important relics of Christianity: The Ark of the Covenant.
By JensiS65 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23475829
