Martyrs’ Memorial


From a distance, this memorial to the victims of the Derg could be mistaken for the world’s biggest golf ball and tee. From up close it’s another story, with larger-than-life statues flanking the tower that illustrate the true cost of war. The domed building just to the north is a museum that exalts the successes and sacrifices made by the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) during the 1970s and '80s.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

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Crowds of pilgrims throng here on St Mikael's saint day.

3. New Market

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The city's main market is busy but not Ethiopia's most interesting – its stallholders mostly sell modern household goods and the sort of clothes of…

5. Derg Bombing Monument

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Southwest of the ‘bazaar’, the intriguing monument in the roundabout is a memorial to the victims of the Derg bombing in Hawzien.

7. Lucy Park

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Small and slightly scruffy stand of green in the city centre.

8. Yohannes IV Museum

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The Italian-designed stone palace built for Emperor Yohannes IV (r 1872–89) is now an interesting museum. Although the palace itself is undergoing a…