Bete Maryam

Rock hewn churches. What an amazing place. You could spend a lot of time here wondering at the craftsmen who built /carved the church. There are few tourists and local guides have good English and knowledge. Try the .local food while you are there.

This is the most beautiful and colourful rock church of lalibela. The outer structure has wonderful sculpture here and there and some paintings after a long period of centuries of elapsed time. The paintings gives you an idea of it's grandness around 16th century that leads to imagination of the observer.

It is an impressive, rather special historic complex of rock churches. The crowds and the multiple times one has to take one's shoes off makes it hard work. The air quality is also rather poor in most rooms, which adds another level of discomfort. Still a "must see" even if you only take a flavor of it and don't bother with every church.

The first, Bet Maryam, is small, yet designed and decorated to an exceptionally high standard.

Great place. A little hard on the feet though. Be prepared to walk on rocks in your stocking feet.