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26 GOURMET TRAVELLER

Lalibela, Ethiopia

TOM PARKER, PHOTOGRAPHER

“The Church of Saint George is

the magnificent centrepiece of the

Lalibela monolithic rock-hewn

churches, built in the late 12th

century by King Gebre Mesqel

Lalibela in Ethiopia’s north.

“Remarkably, the church is

carved from a single piece of

volcanic rock. The cross at ground

level is actually the roof; the

entrance is 30 metres below and

part of a maze of underground

tunnels. It’s one of 11 rock-hewn

churches carved in two clusters

• an attempt by the king to build
  his own version of Jerusalem.
  “This shot was taken on a
  Sunday morning, immediately
  after a service attended by scores
  of Christian pilgrims. It was
  a real privilege to be at this most
  holy of sites.”

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