Debre Libanos Monastery
It is located 100km north of Addis Ababa, in Oromia Region. It takes two hours of scenic driving to get to this historical and holiest site. This is an important monastic center for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. The monastery was founded in the 13th century by Saint Tekla Haimanot, one of Ethiopia’s most revered saints today. Unfortunately, the original monastery was destroyed by war, but a new monastery was built in 1961 during the era of Emperor Haile Selassie. The monastery sits on a terrace between a cliff and the gorge formed by Jemma River which is one of the tributaries of the great Blue Nile River. The monastery has impressive and large stained glass windows and stunning mural paintings. Also, there is a church museum where you will visit different Ethiopian Orthodox church objects, Ceremonial Clothes, and other historical relics. You will walk up to the hill for 15 minutes to reach the nearby cave where the Saint prayed for 29 years. According to the legend, the saint stood on one foot for so long that the other foot fell off. People come to the cave every day to receive holy water which is believed to be a sign of the saint’s prayer.

The Portuguese bridge
This historical bridge is located close to the monastery and is believed to be built by the Portuguese Solders in the 16th century. But there is controversy about the origins of the Bridge. According to some, it was built by Ethiopian Ras Darge in the 19th century. The bridge is built in Portuguese style and the view of the area is simply breathtaking, with a waterfall and a deep gorge leading down to the Jemma River valley. Also, it is a habitat of rare birds and the endemic Gelada Baboons. You will have a walk on the bridge to see the spectacular view and the Jemma River Valley. The Jemma River is one of the tributaries of the great Blue Nile.