Lalibela is well known for the 11 incredible rock carved churches made in the 13th century by king Lalibela.
It is considered as the 8th world wonder and the holiest city of Ethiopia.
Lalibela became the capital of Ethiopia after Axum, from the 11th century till the 13th century.
Four of the emperors have constructed magnificent and remarkable churches adapting the Axumite architecture.

The layout and names of the major buildings in Lalibela are widely accepted to be a symbolic representation of Jerusalem.
Some experts date the current form of its churches to the years following the capture of Jerusalem in 1187 by Saladin.

The churches have been carved top-down from the sections of porous basaltic scoriae using chisels, axes, and other blades. Workers first traced the perimeter of the structure on the rock face, then isolated the main structure of the church. Finally, the inner mass was sculpted as the exterior was refined and ornamented. Unlike in built construction, where the last element constructed is at the top, this method of construction leaves the most recently hewn element at the bottom.