Religious Buildings (Self Guided), Addis Ababa

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.

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 St. 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.

St. 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.

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.

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.

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.

St. Stephen's Church, or as it is called in Ethiopia - St. 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.

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.