Bet Medhane alem, Lalibela. The worlds largest church carved completely out of solid rock, standing 11 metres high and covering an area of 800 square metres.

This 13th century monolith may have been modelled on Ezana’s 4th century temple of Maryam Tsion at Axum and thus indirectly on Kings Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. The building is supported inside by 36 carved pillars, left from the solid rock, 36 outside, some of which have now been replaced. This historic church is protected from further water damage by a modern canopy, overhead.