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Lalibela

Lalibela is one of the world's most remarkable spiritual sites, home to Ethiopia's astounding rock hewn churches and an important source of pilgrimage to Ethiopia's Orthodox Christians. There are 13 churches in total, each carved from a single piece of granite, and all in current use. They were carved between the 10th and 12th centuries in a bid to create the New Jerusalem for those unable to pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The small town itself is fairly rudimental, but there is an airport, one large hotel and good restaurants. The atmosphere of Lalibela can be described as biblical, a quiet, mystical place, with a cool, moist climate, that never fails to astound its growing number of visitors. It should be noted that Lalibela and its churches are not tourist attractions, but places for worship and contemplation: tourists should be respectful when visting and taking photographs.