Abbeys monasteries and convents Lac Tana

This is one of the highlights of a visit to the religious sites of Lake Tana, unfortunately reserved for men only. It's a 30-minute climb to reach the sanctuary from the small boat harbor. Allow around 1h30 for the round trip. The monastery-church on an islet is home to the largest monastic community on the lake: some two hundred monks are recluses here. Legend has it that the monastery was founded by a saint in 1268, sailing on a stone boat, which can still be seen halfway along the path. Restored in the ^19th century, the sanctuary preserves, alongside contemporary paintings, canvases and paintings from the prosperous ^15th and ^16th centuries. But that's not why visitors come here. The centerpiece are the mummified bodies of Ethiopian sovereigns, encased in glass sarcophagi. The reason for the presence of the remains of emperors who reigned during the long Gondaran dynasty remains unclear. Here lie the remains of Yekouno Amlak (^13th century), Dawit ^I and Zara Yakob (^15th century), Libne Dingle (^16th century) and Fasiladas (^17th century). Having collapsed several years ago, the monastery is still being rebuilt and the monks are hard at work. The mummies can be seen in a small temporary museum at the top of the hill. No explanations in English or any other language on site, so take a guide to Bahar Dar if you want to find out more.

The nearest monastery island, Bahar Dar, is around 30 minutes away by boat. It is home to a community of some forty monks in a serene wooded environment. The church, rebuilt in the ^17th century, features a series of paintings in a poor state of preservation, but of great interest. Nearby, a small, well-appointed museum displays a collection of crosses and manuscripts of the utmost importance. The library is said to contain over 200 of them! The monk in charge of the tour is full of explanations.