Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ura Kidane Meret
Offline map
(admission Birr100, video camera Birr100)
The Zege Peninsula's largest and most fam-
ous monastery is hardly the most attractive on the outside, but it's maqdas (inner sanctu-
ary) is beautifully painted and it holds an important collection of 14th- to 20th-century
crosses and crowns which will soon be displayed in a big new museum. Outside its gate is
collection of household items displayed in a 300-year-old home. The monastery is a
20-minute walk from the landing.
MONASTERY
Bete Maryam
Offline map
(admission Birr100, video camera Birr100)
Founded in the 13th century, Bete Maryam,
near the tip of the peninsula, is the oldest monastery on Zege and its attractive church has
some excellent murals that, unfortunately, suffered water damage. It's a short walk from
the landing through lemon and coffee trees. Just uphill from Bete Maryam,
Bete Giorgis
Offline map
is being rebuilt from scratch following a fire. Its small museum with an im-
portant collection of crowns is still open.
MONASTERY
Azuwa Maryam
Offline map
(admission Birr100, video camera Birr100)
The thatch roof atop the church at Azuwa
Maryam helps make it the best looking church on Zege (currently Bete Maryam is the
only other church with thatch), though its paintings and small museum are more ordinary.
Don't miss the religious school for priests and deacons here. Azuwa Maryam is a two-
minute walk from the landing; the same landing used for Ura Kidane Meret.
MONASTERY
Bete Selassie & Tekla Haimanot
(admission Birr100, video camera Birr100)
Two very rarely visited (the deacons and
priests probably won't have receipt books) monasteries sit high up in the hills. Bete
Selassie (men only) is a 30- to 45-minute walk from the shore. The simple exterior of the
church (rebuilt in 1858) gives no clue to the wonderfully vivid paintings (arguably the
best on the lake) inside, most of which date from the 1930s. On top of the peninsula's
highest point, 10 minutes from Bete Selassie, the church at Tekla Haimanot is similar but
smaller than Bete Selassie's. It has paintings by the same artists but lacks the historic at-
mosphere. Both have the potential for great views, but the forest prevents it. Guides con-
MONASTERIES