Religious Buildings, Addis Ababa

Religious Buildings (Self Guided), Addis Ababa

Ethiopia is mainly a Christian country. However, there are many other religions of the world there as the country has many ethnic groups. Addis Ababa boasts very beautiful and old, Christian cathedrals and churches. There are also Catholic churches and mosques in the city. This self-guided tour will lead you to the great religious sights of Addis Ababa.
How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Religious Buildings Map

Guide Name: Religious Buildings
Guide Location: Ethiopia » Addis Ababa (See other walking tours in Addis Ababa)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 8
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 9.5 Km or 5.9 Miles
Author: vickyc
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
  • Nur Mosque
  • St. George's Cathedral
  • St. Mary Church
  • Holy Trinity Cathedral
  • Ba'etta Mariam Orthodox Church
  • Gebi Gebriel Orthodox Church
  • St. Stephen's Church
  • San Salvador Church
1
Nur Mosque

1) Nur Mosque

Nur Mosque is a Muslim temple in Addis Ababa. This mosque is the oldest Islamic temple of the city. It was recently rebuilt. The mosque was built to reflect all the greatness of Islamic architecture with characterized domes, towers and piers.
2
St. George's Cathedral

2) St. George's Cathedral (must see)

St George's Cathedral is an Orthodox cathedral noted for its distinctive octagonal form and is located at the northern end of Churchill Road. Designed by Sebastiano Castagna and built by Italian prisoners of war defeated at Adwa in 1896, it was named after Saint George, after the ark of the church was carried to the Battle of Adwa against the Italians, during which the Ethiopians secured victory. The Italian Fascist authorities set the building on fire during the war in 1937, yet the cathedral was later restored by the Emperor following the liberation in 1941.

The Cathedral has a museum where it displays an Imperial throne and weaponry used in the wars against the Italians including curved swords and tridents and giant helmets made from the manes of lions.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
3
St. Mary Church

3) St. Mary Church

Saint Mary Church is dedicated to the mother of God. The entrance to the church area is endowed with a domed gate. The church has a bell tower, painted dome and glass windows. There are two bronze statues of angels at each part of the staircase that leads to the church.
4
Holy Trinity Cathedral

4) Holy Trinity Cathedral (must see)

Holy Trinity Cathedral is the highest ranking Orthodox cathedral built to commemorate Ethiopia's liberation from Italian occupation and is the second most important place of worship in Ethiopia.

The church compound is the burial place for those who fought against the Italian Occupation, or those who accompanied the Emperor into exile from 1936 to 1941. The Cathedral complex also includes the 'Bale Wold' Church, which is also known as the Church of the Four Heavenly Creatures. This church served as the original Holy Trinity Monastery Church before the building of the Cathedral and dates back to the reign of Emperor Menelik II. Other facilities include a primary and a secondary school, a monastery, the Holy Trinity Theological College, a museum and monuments housing the remains of those massacred in Addis Ababa by the Italians in 1937.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
5
Ba'etta Mariam Orthodox Church

5) Ba'etta Mariam Orthodox Church

Ba'etta Mariam Orthodox Church is an impressive church that stands on the grounds of Menelik Palace. Menelic Mousaleum is also here. Ba'etta Mariam is the main and biggest church here, but there is also a smaller Orthodox church in front of it. This church is round in form. In these churches you will find beautiful religious art and orthodox icons.
6
Gebi Gebriel Orthodox Church

6) Gebi Gebriel Orthodox Church

Gebi Gebriel is the Ethiopian Orthodox Church situated close to the mausoleum of Mehelec. The church is Orthodox but built in the Ethiopian tradition. It is round in shape and very small. The church is quite bright in colour. There is a decorated cross at the dome of the church and at its entrance.
7
St. Stephen's Church

7) St. Stephen's Church

Saint Stephen's Church, or as it is called in Ethiopia - Saint Estifanos Church, is a new church built in the part of Addis Ababa where there are many modern buildings. The entrance of the church is a large, three-domed gate. There is beautiful, religious art inside the church and at its entrance.
8
San Salvador Church

8) San Salvador Church

San Salvador is the Roman Catholic Church in Addis Ababa. It is a large round church built from red brick. There is a tall tower, so characteristic of Catholic style. The Catholic Church appeared in Ethiopia many centuries ago. It is very similar to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in its expressions of faith.

Walking Tours in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Create Your Own Walk in Addis Ababa

Create Your Own Walk in Addis Ababa

Creating your own self-guided walk in Addis Ababa is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Addis Ababa Introduction Walking Tour

Addis Ababa Introduction Walking Tour

Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is the country’s commercial and cultural hub, hosting a number of historic landmarks: monuments, squares, palaces and more. Among them the ones dedicated to the local Emperor Menelek and those commemorating the country's last, 20th-century emperor Haile Selassie. Follow this orientation walk to explore some of the top attractions of Addis Ababa.

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.4 Km or 3.4 Miles
North of Addis Ababa Walking Tour

North of Addis Ababa Walking Tour

Some remarkable landmarks of Addis Ababa can be found in the north part of the city. There are monuments, beautiful buildings and the zoo where you can see lions walking. This self-guided tour will lead you through these attractions in the north of Addis Ababa.

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles