Gondar

Often called the Camelot of Africa, Gondar was the imperial capital of Ethiopia for more than two centuries after Emperor Fasilides founded it in 1636. At its heart lies Fasil Ghebbi, a walled royal compound where stone castles, palaces and churches rise behind battlemented walls in a striking blend of Ethiopian, Portuguese, Indian and Moorish design that earned the site UNESCO World Heritage status. Fasilides Castle, with its turrets and domed towers, is the most photographed landmark. A short walk away, the church of Debre Berhan Selassie is famous for its ceiling of winged cherub faces gazing down over walls covered in vivid murals. Each January the city fills for Timkat, Ethiopia's joyous Epiphany festival, when crowds gather at Fasilides Bath for a dawn blessing and procession.