Historic churches, monuments and crowded markets all contribute to the colorful ambience of Ethiopia’s capital. While visitors shouldn’t miss the emerging Bole district or the “Red Terror” Martyrs’ Memorial Museum and Africa Hall in the southeast sections of the sprawling city, a rewarding area to explore surrounds Entoto Avenue, the boulevard connecting the two landmark roundabouts Arat Kilo and Sidist Kilo northeast of the city center. You might think of it as Lucy’s neighborhood, since its most distinguished resident resides midway up the road in the National Museum of Ethiopia. To be precise, it’s not actually the 3.2-million-year-old skeleton of an Australopithecus afarensis hominoid woman but a replica of her striding across her glass case in a darkened gallery room. Her discovery in 1974 required a complete rethinking of human genealogy, and she continues to attract visitors who fawn over her image and crowd around to take selfies with one of the world’s oldest inhabitants. Elsewhere in the charming, colonial-style building, the museum devotes four main exhibit sections to art works, ancient and medieval artifacts, ethnographic displays, and regalia and memorabilia from the country’s rulers — including the iconic modern leader, the “Lion of Judah” Haile Selassie, also once a resident of this part of town. Arat Kilo, also called Meyazia 27 Square, commemorates May 5, 1941, the double date of Ethiopia’s liberation from Italy and Haile Selassie’s triumphant return from exile. The square is surrounded by shops and restaurants serving the staple national dish injera, the spongy flatbread coated with vegetable and meat sauces. At night visitors can stop at Jolly Bar and Grill for pizza, hamburgers and live music performed in its mirrored setting. Wandering into the side streets running west uphill, visitors encounter secondhand book stalls, the residence of the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Church and clusters of old Armenian-style houses dating from the Armenian Orthodox community that took refuge here. At the top of the hill, examples of the dark-maned Abyssinian lions prowl cages in the Lion Zoo. And it’s a statue of a lion that stands on a ledge on the monument at Sidist Kilo, dedicated to patriots massacred in 1937. Just beyond, up the hill on the campus of the University of Addis Ababa, surrounded by gardens, the Ethnological Museum showcases historical artifacts of daily life, religious art and musical instruments. Housed in a former palace of Haile Selassie, it also exhibits his private suite, including a bullet hole reminder of the 1960 coup d’état.
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Jan 26, 2021Best Cities for Locavores in 2021
A locavore diet consists of food from local places, like nearby gardens, farmers markets and farm-to-table restaurants. As lockdowns and the pandemic continue, naturally people have been partaking more in a locavore diet. LawnStarter, America’s leading outdoor services provider, determined 2021’s Best Cities for Locavores.
Daily
Jan 25, 2021Private Jet Travel Predictions 2021
Global aircraft charter company Air Charter Service analyzed private jet travel habits in 2020 to predict trends for 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected air travel worldwide in 2020, but Air Charter Service looks ahead to 2021 with optimism.
Daily
Jan 22, 2021Getting Cozy in the Catskills
The Urban Cowboy hospitality brand is no stranger to making city-adjacent stays feel a little more country. The newest addition to its roster, The Chalet, goes a rustic-chic step further at The Urban Cowboy in the Catskills, New York.
Sponsored Content
Peace of Mind
IHG® Business Edge provides small- to midsized enterprises with benefits and confidence to navigate the evolving business travel environment.
Daily
Jan 21, 20218 Reasons to Put Poland on Your Travel List
As the vaccine rolls out and travel begins to pick up, it’s time to start dreaming of your next international trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Poland with us.
The Village at Camelback Review
eFlyer Reviews
Jan 20, 2021andBeyond’s New Virtual Dream Board
eFlyer News
Jan 20, 2021Aloft Tulum to Open in Mexico in 2021
eFlyer News
Jan 20, 2021Free COVID Testing at 18 Saint Lucia Resorts
eFlyer News
Jan 20, 2021Grand Opening Offer from Hotel Effie
eFlyer Deals
Jan 20, 2021eFlyer Deals
Jan 20, 2021A Room Full of Roses at The Rose Hotel
The Rose Hotel Chicago O’Hare, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton is offering lovers something extra special for Valentine’s Day this year. The extravagant A Room Full of Roses offer features a suite filled to the brim with 400 long-stemmed roses, as well as a welcome amenity and a bottle of sparkling wine or cider upon arrival.
Sponsored Content
What To Expect When Flying: oneworld Debuts Information Portal
Though air travel slowed as airports temporarily closed and borders shuttered to stifle the spread of coronavirus, the airline industry — led by oneworld alliance member airlines — enacted enhanced protective measures to reduce risk and protect passengers.
eFlyer Deals
Jan 20, 2021Spa Grande at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort Offer
Reset your health and wellness this year with Spa Grande at Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. The property introduced the Live Grande Reset offer, at the largest spa in all of Hawai’i at 50,000 square feet.
ShareThis