|
Addis Ababa is a sprawling city, well wooded, especially
with eucalyptus trees, and crossed by broad avenues. Modern, multistoried buildings
sit side by side with traditional one- and two story structures and open spaces.
Its high elevation gives the city a mild, pleasant climate. The city is the seat
of Addis Ababa University (1950), schools of music and art, and several research
institutes. As headquarters of the Organization of African Unity and the UN Economic
Commission for Africa, the city is the scene of many international conferences.
Of note in the city are the octagon-shaped Saint George Coptic Christian Cathedral
(1896), the modern Africa Hall with its dramatic stained-glass windows, and the
Menelik II Palace, as well as several museums with collections of art, ethnology,
and archaeology.
This big, sprawling, hospitable city is more than
2,200 meters high in the foothills of Mount Entoto. Modem buildings and wide open
boulevards stand side by side with historic churches, palaces and monuments, as
well as simple country-style huts. The air is filled
with the scent of flowers and eucalyptus trees, and the rich vibrancy of a city
that is home to so many cultures. .As a major international
city, Addis Ababa offers a wide range of excellent hotel facilities, from luxury
international hotels to a good number of mid-priced and budget accommodations.
State of the art conference facilities attract numerous international meetings
to Ethiopia. The train service of the Addis
Ababa/Djibouti Railroad terminates at the celebrated Addis Ababa Railway Station.
A wide network of roads, most of them all-weather highways, link Addis Ababa with
all the regional centers and most other towns in Ethiopia, as well as with Kenya,
Djibouti and Eritrea . Bus services leave Addis Ababa daily for all regional centers,
and most rural centers that have roads. 
The National Museum This famous museum, close
to the University of Addis Ababa Graduate School, houses numerous antiquarian
relics and archaeological artifacts showing the history of Ethiopia from prehistoric
times to the modern day. Its most famous exhibit is the 3.5 million year old skeleton
of Lucy 
Mount Entoto Addis Ababa is built in the foothills
of Mount Entoto, and the panorama from the peak (3,200m3, either by day or night,
is a breathtaking spectacle. The Church of St Mary (1885) overlooks the entire
city and the surrounding area. The Entoto Museum, with its historical exhibits
is well worth a visit
The
Jubilee Palace On Menelik II Avenue, this modern palace
was completed to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the coronation of Emperor Haile
Selassie I. The park is home to a collection of rare indigenous wildlife. Zoological
Natural history Museum The only natural history museum in Ethiopia with exhibits
including examples of most of our indigenous wildlife, often displayed in panoramas
showing the relationship of the animals to their natural habitats.
Ethnological Museum The exciting Ethnological
Museum, located in the main campus of Addis Ababa University, helps visitors to
understand the priceless and varied ethnic medley that is Ethiopia.
The Menelik Mausoleum Built in 1911, in the
old Baata church, it serves as a tomb for emperors, princes and martyrs of freedom.
Built to house the tomb of Emperor Menelik II it also includes the graves of members
of his family and the Emperor Haile Selassie.
St. Georges Cathedral
Built in 1896 in the traditional
octagonal shape by the Emperor Menelik II to commemorate his victory at Adwa,
it is dedicated to the national saint of Ethiopia. The museum houses a wide collection
of important religious paintings, crosses of many designs, historic books and
parchments, and beautiful handicrafts. There are also fine examples of modern
paintings by the famous Ethiopian artist Afewerke Tekle. | 
