Photo:Inger Heldal©Directorate for Cultural Heritage

The fortress-city of Fasil Ghebbi in Gondar was the former residence of emperor Fasilides and his successors in the 16th and 17th centuries, and was the first capital of Ethiopia. The city contains palaces, churches, monasteries and unique buildings marked by Hindu and Arab architectural influence. The Baroque style was brought here by the Jesuits.

Fasil Ghebbi was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979, and the palaces of Gondar are among Ethiopia’s foremost tourist attractions. Fasiledes Bath is still used for the annual religious festival of Timkat-Epiphany. The Norwegian Embassy has allocated funds to the rehabilitation and restauration of Fasiledes Bath, and the Directorate for Cultural Heritage has been involved as advisors in the preparation and implementation of the work.