Addis Ababa is the fourth largest city in Africa — nicknamed “Adis” for those who are intimate with the place — it is not only the political capital of Ethiopia but it is also considered as the diplomatic capital of the entire continent, as it harbors the headquarter buildings of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. There is cold air coming down from the mountains. Adis also represents a true cultural hub for Africa, as it reunites a rich and consistent millennial culture.
There are photography and jazz festivals, and world music on the city’s cultural calendar. The National Theater, for example, reunites thousands of spectators for its disputed cinema festival. And there are artistic spaces, such as the Zoma Contemporary Art Center, and the actuation of artistic collections, such as the Asni Gallery, which is always inaugurating new exhibits. The zenith is really on the National Museum. It hosts its own permanent collection, which includes nothing more than, the Lucy, Selam, and Ardi fossils, hominid precursors of the human species.
Piazza is such a busy neighborhood — especially, at the end of the afternoon — you will find cafés and well-repudiated restaurants, cinema, a great number of markets, a Greek Church, and many stores and shops.
Speaking about shopping, anyone who is seeking something special in handcrafted products cannot miss Merkato; it is possibly the largest open market in the entire African continent. Thus, it is possible to see: as the city valorizes a great deal of its history. The museums and many churches prove this.
CURIOSITIES
Saint George is the saint who killed the dragon according to Christian mythology and is extremely popular in this country and there are stores and churches named after him, and also the world’s most famous beer. The word Addis Ababa means a “new flower” in Amharic, which is the official language of Ethiopia.