The castles of Ethiopia's imperial capital
Gondar was the capital of the Ethiopian empire from the 17th century, and its royal enclosure, Fasil Ghebbi, holds castles and palaces built by successive emperors in a style blending local, Indian and European influences. Fasilides' Bath, a pool with a small pavilion, fills for the Timkat Epiphany festival, when crowds gather to be blessed with its water. The Debre Birhan Selassie church has a ceiling painted with rows of winged angels' faces. Gondar is also the gateway to the Simien Mountains.