One aspect that sets many Ethiopian towns apart is their variety. Addis is modern, big, crowded and hilly, where Harar is a walled city with its roots firmly set in medieval times. In stark contrast to Addis Ababa is Axum a town located somewhere in the middle of nowhere, while Bahirdar is lush and tranquil.

Gonder Ethiopia is beautiful, breath-taking and impressive. It is art-deco in style and very much Italian. Whatever destinations travelers plan to visit Gonder Ethiopia should definitely be on their must see list.

Those who know Gondar well regard it as a very special place amidst 17th century castles that resemble something from a Disney fairytale and its attractive 1930’s architecture. It also offers an amazing array of colorful flowers that tempt one to stay a lot longer than planned.

Gonder Ethiopia is located in the northwest region of Ethiopia with the Simien Mountains to the north and Lake Tana to the south. Tourists come here traveling between Bahirdar and Simien or Axum. Those who do not intend to go further north, take a turn here east to Lalibela. Both the road going north and east from Gondar is astonishing.

This is the best of what can be experienced in the Abyssinian plateau, but one should not underestimate the difficulty of traveling along these northern roads. Built in the 1930’s during the occupation by the Italians, the road to Axum is without any doubt, an extreme engineering undertaking. The road crawls up and down taking incredible bends for many more kilometers than the crow fly would suggest. It passes over the Simien mountain range, the highest in Ethiopia, and that makes it a firm favorite with travelers.

Trekking in Simien is a blooming attraction, tempting those who want the adventure of visiting one of the few remaining un-spoilt travel destinations. Simien is definitely one of those spots, obviously getting less and less so.

It does not matter how one gets to Gondar, you will find it alluring and want to stay longer. For those who travel trying to search traces of history it offers up glimpses of a rich past set against a backdrop of awe-inspiring views.

The Gondarine Empire
Gonder came into being as a trading post on the long distance routes that merchants used to carry gold, ivory and slaves. It is not known exactly when Gondar began life as a trading center.

What is clear, is that the beginning of its importance is closely linked with the shift in the seat of power in the empire in the 17th century. From this moment on, it started to play a role of a permanent capital of Ethiopia, the first since the times of Axumite Empire.

Before (and also after the so called “Gondarine Empire”), for most of the time the Emperor executed his power traveling together with his court and pitching a camp whenever needed for his purposes. Gonder remained at the center of political power in the Empire until the middle of the 19th century and then the town was abandoned and slowly deteriorated.

Ethiopia was occupied by Italy in 1936 following a bloody war. Emperor Selassie I, conscious that staying in Ethiopia would result in his execution, fled to Europe. By this time Gondar was a place of the past, with old castles falling into pieces.

But this town with its charm and excellent climate became a big attraction to the Italians. Those who killed its people and settled in their country brought about a new beginning for Gondar. They made it the capital of the newly formed Amhara region and began the construction of houses, and government buildings.

They even constructed an artificial lake, so that the Governor of the province had a view from his residency, which has since become one of Gonder’s most desirable hotels. Under the Italian influence the town developed an art-deco style, where Italian-style coffee places and restaurants were plenty as they still are to this day.

About the Author
Hanna Rubinkowska (PhD) has traveled extensively throughout Ethiopia. She lectures at Warsaw University, Department of African Languages and Cultures.

Visit ethiopiantour.com for more information on ethiopia travel or you can follow the continuation about the castles and ruins at gondar ethiopia where you will also find more information and facts about travel to Ethiopia.

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