On the Eastern part of the country, perched at the end of a spur
projecting from the Central plateau, lays the old walled city of
Harar redolent of the Middle Eastern world. Five massive gates in
the walls of the city center stand testimony to the need for strong
defense, against past intruders. This city was founded 1,000 years
ago, around the 10th or 11th century AD when it began to establish
itself as an important center of the Islamic faith on the African
continent and built cultural, religious and commercial links with
other parts of the Muslim world.
Harar is a fortified historic town in southeastern Ethiopia. It has
been a major commercial center, linking African and Islamic trade
routes.
It has been recognized by Unesco as 'an inland urban settlement with
a distinct architectural character and social organization, which
cannot be compared to any other town in East Africa. It was
registered in 2006.'
It is considered "the fourth holiest city of Islam" with 82 mosques
and 102 shrines. The Islamic is town characterized by a maze of
narrow alleyways and forbidding facades.
Tweets by @AddisTour