Addis Ababa was founded by Emperor Menelik II, who relocated his capital from Ankober to the Entoto Hills in the early 1880s. Following the unusually cold and wet rainy season of 1886, the royal entourage set up temporary camp at the lower-lying Filwoha Hot Springs, largely at the urge of Queen Taitu, who loved its steamy natural baths and christened the site Addis Ababa (New Flower). By the mid-1890s, the new imperial palace at Addis Ababa comprised a 3km² compound enclosing 50 buildings and housing 8,000 people, while the Saturday market near present-day St George’s Cathedral drew up to 50,000 people. In 1900, lack of firewood in the immediate vicinity of Addis Ababa prompted Menelik II to consider relocating his capital to Addis Alem (New World), a plan that was scrapped when it was discovered that the Entoto Hills provided ideal conditions for the fast-growing eucalyptus tree, an import from Australia. The capital’s development was bolstered by the arrival of the Djibouti railway in 1917 and an associated influx of Armenian and French traders, as well as by the drive for modernization, following the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1930. Addis Ababa was chosen as the base for the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in 1958, and five years later it was made headquarters of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union. The city’s population has grown from around 100,000 at the time of Menelik II’s death in 1913 to almost four million today.
Unity Park
Unity Park is located within the National Palace of Ethiopia,in Addis Ababa embodies generational legacy of Ethiopia and Ethiopians.
Unity Park features a wide banquet hall made of wood and leather ropes, wooden and glass houses once inhabited by princes and princesses and an imperial court and hall, Tamirat Hailu, a historian who coordinated the park project, said in a pre-launch press briefing.
The park also includes a spacious green area including a botanical garden, a zoo where primates and endemic black-mane lions will roam among 300 individual animals of 46 species, to be watched from an artistic tunnel with grass portions for viewing.
The park also includes a spacious green area including a botanical garden, a zoo where primates and endemic black-mane lions will roam among 300 individual animals of 46 species, to be watched from an artistic tunnel with grass portions for viewing.
The National Museum
The National Museum exhibits fascinating items like the oldest hominid skeleton (Lucy) that is discovered in 1974 in a place called Hadar, on the banks of the Awash River. She is believed to be over three million years old. The museum also contains traditional and ceremonial costumes, jewelry paintings, sculptures and other archaeological findings.
Ethnographic Museum
Set within Haile SelassieI’s former palace (Genete Leul Palace) was built in 1930. The building of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies of Addis Ababa University (also known as Ethnological Museum) hosts ethnographic items of more than eighty ethnic groups of the country. The museum accommodate on the first and second floors and comprising of the bedroom of the Emperor HaileselassieI, ethnographic section and gallery, which concentrates on the history of sacred arts.
Mausoleum of Bààta Church
Empress Zewditu, Menelik’s daughter, built the mausoleum in 1911. It is situated in the premises of Menelik’s palace. The remains of the King, his wife Empress Taitu and his daughter Empress Zewditu are in the underground crypt.
Trinity Cathedral
Trinity Cathedral was constructed by Emperor Haileselassie I in 1947 and dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The architecture of the cathedral is very unique to both Ethiopia and Africa. It is ornamented with carvings and mosaic and other artistic works such as paintings of saints and the apostles on the stained glass. Within the compound and gardens of the church are found the crypts of the Imperial family.
Africa Union Hall
The Africa hall, which is situated opposite to the Grand palace, is the seat of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. It was built in 1961 by Ethiopian government as a monument to African Unity. In the lobby there is a stained glass window by Ethiopia’s most well known artist, Miter Artist, World Laureate Afework Tekle, depicting the Africans of yesterday, today and tomorrow in their struggle for freedom and progress.
The Markato
The grand market (Markato) is a place where a commercial activity of the capital city takes place. It is one of the largest open-air markets in Africa. The normal market days are Wednesday and Saturday. It is true that anything you might want can be found here, only if you know where to look. Markato is not only Addis Ababa’s commercial center, but also the dynamo of the country’s business and industry. Here bargaining is a way of life.
Entoto Park
Since its establishment in the 19th century, Addis Ababa (አዲስአበባ) has always seemed like a magical portal, a gateway to another world. For the rural masses of Ethiopia it was, and is, a city whose streets are paved in gold; for a foreign visitor, the gateway of Addis Ababa is at the verge of an ancient and mystical world. And yet, Addis – Africa’s fourth-largest city and its diplomatic capital – is also a traffic-choked, sprawling city of no discernible beauty that many foreign visitors try to transit as quickly as possible. But take note: by skipping out on the contradictions of this complex city you run the risk of failing to understand Ethiopia altogether. And apart from anything else, Addis is the best place in the country to sample Ethiopian food and has some wonderful museums and places to stay.
