Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
24
Dashen House
C2
B3
Entertainment
B3
27
Elilta
A3
28
Shewe Beye
B3
Shopping
(see 21)
29
Kindu Trust
C1
Transport
Post Bus
(see 23)
Fasiladas' Palace
By far the most impressive, and also the oldest, building is Fasiladas' Palace, just inside
the entrance gate. It stands 32m tall and has a crenulated parapet and four domed
towers
.
Made of roughly hewn stones, it's reputedly the work of an Indian architect and shows an
unusual synthesis of Indian, Portuguese, Moorish and Aksumite influences. The main
floor was used as
dining halls
and a formal
reception area.
Note the wall reliefs, includ-
ing several Stars of David, which trumpet Fasiladas' link to the Solomonic dynasty. The
small room in the northern corner boasts its original beam ceiling and some faint frescoes.
On the 1st floor, Fasiladas'
prayer room
has windows in four directions, each overlook-
ing Gonder's important churches. Religious ceremonies were held on the roof, and it was
from here that he addressed his people. Above Fasiladas' 2nd-floor
bedroom
was the
watchtower
, from where it's (apparently) possible to see all the way to Lake Tana. Be-
hind the castle are various ruined buildings, including the
kitchen
(domed ceiling),
steambath
, and
water cistern
.
