UNESCO Heritage · Addis Ababa & Surroundings
Tiya & Adadi Mariam
South of the capital, a UNESCO-listed field of engraved standing stones and a semi-monolithic church attributed to the time of King Lalibela.
- Best Time
- Year-round
- Suggested Stay
- 1 day
- Altitude
- 2,000 to 2,200 m
- Region
- Addis Ababa & Surroundings
Why We Go
Mysterious carved stelae and a rock-hewn church, an easy day from Addis Ababa.
Tiya, inscribed by UNESCO in 1980, is one of the most important of the many stelae sites in the Soddo region. Its 36 monuments, some engraved with enigmatic swords and symbols, mark ancient burial grounds whose builders remain a mystery.
Adadi Mariam, about 70 kilometres from Addis Ababa, is a semi-monolithic church carved into soft rock, traditionally linked to King Lalibela and still in use by the local community.
Highlights
- Tiya’s 36 standing stelae engraved with swords and symbols
- Adadi Mariam, a rock-hewn church carved into the hillside
- The Melka Kunture prehistoric site on the Awash River
- Rural Gurage and Oromo villages along the way
Journeys Including Tiya & Adadi Mariam
Routes that pass through here
More in Addis Ababa & Surroundings
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