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Africa's "Camelot" and "Sistine Chapel" rest at Gondar, a popular stopover for its medieval castles that seemingly summon the Knights of the Round Table. Nestled at the historic Begemder Province, Gondar or Gonder is sandwiched in between two World Heritage Sites—the world-famous hiking destination, Simien Mountains, and the walled city of Fasil Ghebbi, notable for its Arab, Hindu and Baroque palaces, monasteries, churches, and other marvelous architecture. Legend has it that a buffalo led the 17th-century emperor Fasilides to a pool where an old hermit told him to build a citadel, now known as Gonder Castle, a smaller version of England's mythical King Arthur's castle, Camelot. The emperors who succeeded Fasilides also built their own fortresses around Gonder Castle. These structures now include Iyasu's Palace, Dawit's Banquet Hall, and Mentewab's Castle, with stables, chancellery, library, and three churches in between. Altogether, these edifices make up what is known as the Royal Enclosure. Nearby is Empress Mentewab's Qusquam Complex, the 18th-century Ras Mikael Sehul's Palace, and Fasilides' Bath, where an annual ceremony is performed to celebrate Timket or Epiphany in which the people bless the site before opening it for bathing.
Around town, buses frequently service travelers to a two-day trip to and from Addis Ababa. Blue and white minibuses also ply the streets to provide cheap, efficient transport. For couples on a honeymoon, seeing the city on a horse-drawn gari (taxi) could be sensational.
Downtown of Gondar are affordable hotels that dabble as restaurants and bars. The main piazza features villas, shops, an entertainment complex, and other structures that demonstrate fine examples of Italian Moderne style, as influenced by the Italians who occupied the city in the late ‘30s. A short trip out of town is Debre Berhan Selassie Church, sometimes called "Africa's Sistine Chapel" for its intricately-painted ceiling.
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