Fasil Ghebbi

Fasil Ghebbi in the Gondar region
UNESCO world heritage
	Palace of the Fasilidas
National territory:	Ethiopia
Type:	Culture
Criteria :	(ii) (iii)
Reference No .:	19th
UNESCO region :	Africa
	History of enrollment
Enrollment:	1979 ( session 3 )

Fasil Ghebbi is a fortress city in the region Gonder in Ethiopia and is part of the UNESCO - World Heritage Site .

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the city was the residence of the Ethiopian Emperor Fasilidas , who built a residence here for the rainy season. His successors expanded the city and palace further.

Plan of Fasil Gebi

The city lies at an altitude of 2208 m and is surrounded by a 900 m long fortress wall. It includes palaces, churches, monasteries and other public and private buildings.

The architecture shows Hindu and Arab influences, later also Baroque elements brought in by Jesuit missionaries .

After the capital was moved to Debre Tabor in the mid-19th century , the Fasil Ghebbi was damaged by an attack by supporters of the Mahdi in 1881 and by British air raids in 1941.

Components of the fortress city

The complex of historical buildings consists of:

the palace of Fasilides , built first ,
the office and library of his son Yohannes I (ruler from 1667 to 1682),
the castle of Mentouab , his wife,
the palace of Iyasu I ( Negus from 1682 to 1706), son of Yohannes and Mentouab,
the palace of David III , who ruled from 1716 to 1721,
the banquet hall of Asma Sagad , half-brother of David, who succeeded him from 1721 to 1730,
and three churches: Sesame Quddus Mikael , Elfign Giyorgis and Gem Jabet Mariyam .