Lalibela
Picture this: a king dreams of building a "New Jerusalem" and decides to carve it straight down into the earth. That's exactly what happened in 12th-century Ethiopia when Emperor Lalibela created what many call the eighth wonder of the world. These aren't just churches—they're architectural miracles. Carved entirely from solid volcanic rock, each church was sculpted downward, block by block, until entire cathedrals emerged from the ground. The most famous, St. George's Church, looks like a perfect Greek cross when viewed from above, its walls dropping 40 feet into the earth. Local legend says angels finished the work each night after the craftsmen went home. Walking through these underground passages at dawn, with incense drifting through hand-carved windows and priests chanting in ancient Ge'ez, you might just believe it.
Lalibela prides itself as being the eighth wonder of the world. The rock hewn churches dated from the reign of Emperor Lalibela in the 12th century are famously known as the prime tourist attraction in Ethiopia. While Ethiopia is the home of hundreds of rock-hewn places of worship, the Lalibela sanctuaries stand out among them due to their concentration in a small area and their refinement. In no other part of Ethiopia (or the world for that matter) is there an opportunity to see eleven rock-cut churches in such proximity. All eleven churches can be visited in a single day. The refinement of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela consists of two types: one which is carved and attached directly to the natural rock- ‘Semi monolithic churches’- such as Bete Rafael and Bete Gabrial, and one which is entirely separated from it and stands on its own- ‘Fully monolithic churches’- such as Bete Medhanialem, Bete Maryam, Bete Gyorgis and Bete Marqorios. Of these churches Bete Gyorigs is said to have been the last work of Emperor Lalibela and is considered the masterpiece of the Lalibela churches. This sanctuary is undoubtedly the most photographed church in Ethiopia and has almost become the emblem of the country.