Meskel Square, Addis Ababa (must see)
Meskel Square is a square in the city of Addis Ababa. It is often a site for public gathering or for demonstrations and festivals, notably, the Meskel Festival from which it takes its name. Concerts, parades, and various other government and public events are also held there.
The word "Meskel" means "cross" and the festival commemorates the moment when the crucifix was revealed to Empress Helena of Constantinople. Following the fall of the monarchy in 1974, Meskel Square was renamed "Abiot" or Revolution Square. It was greatly expanded so that it could accommodate the annual Revolution Day and May Day parades on September 12 and May 1. Three gigantic portraits of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Vladimir Lenin were erected in the square. The national monument in memory of those massacred by the Derg regime in the "Red Terror" of the 1970s has been built at the eastern entrance to the square.
The word "Meskel" means "cross" and the festival commemorates the moment when the crucifix was revealed to Empress Helena of Constantinople. Following the fall of the monarchy in 1974, Meskel Square was renamed "Abiot" or Revolution Square. It was greatly expanded so that it could accommodate the annual Revolution Day and May Day parades on September 12 and May 1. Three gigantic portraits of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Vladimir Lenin were erected in the square. The national monument in memory of those massacred by the Derg regime in the "Red Terror" of the 1970s has been built at the eastern entrance to the square.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
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Meskel Square on Map
Sight Name: Meskel Square
Sight Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (See walking tours in Addis Ababa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (See walking tours in Addis Ababa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Create Your Own Walk in Addis Ababa
Creating your own self-guided walk in Addis Ababa is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Addis Ababa Introduction Walking Tour
Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is the country鈥檚 commercial and cultural hub, hosting a number of historic landmarks: monuments, squares, palaces and more. Among them the ones dedicated to the local Emperor Menelek and those commemorating the country's last, 20th-century emperor Haile Selassie. Follow this orientation walk to explore some of the top attractions of Addis Ababa.
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.4 Km or 3.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.4 Km or 3.4 Miles
Religious Buildings
Ethiopia is mainly a Christian country. However, there are many other religions of the world there as the country has many ethnic groups. Addis Ababa boasts very beautiful and old, Christian cathedrals and churches. There are also Catholic churches and mosques in the city. This self-guided tour will lead you to the great religious sights of Addis Ababa.
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 9.5 Km or 5.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 9.5 Km or 5.9 Miles
North of Addis Ababa Walking Tour
Some remarkable landmarks of Addis Ababa can be found in the north part of the city. There are monuments, beautiful buildings and the zoo where you can see lions walking. This self-guided tour will lead you through these attractions in the north of Addis Ababa.
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles