The important monastery of Debre
Damo is one of the oldest and most
inaccessible centres of Christianity in the
country (let and top let ). It was founded
by one of the nine monks, Abuna
Za-Mikael, who’s said to have a ascended
the sheer-sided plateau on the back of a
python. Only men are permitted to climb
the plaited leather ropes to visit the holy
site, which is home to some 150
self-suicient monks. The domed ceiling
at Mikael Milhayzenghi cave church
(right) resembles himbasha, Tigray’s
traditional round latbread.120 nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel
ETHIOPIA