Monastery
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Debre Damo Monastery
Debre Damo is an ancient 6th-century cliff-top monastery perched atop a flat-topped mountain mesa in Tigray, accessible only by scaling a vertical 15-metre rock cliff using a platted leather rope. Founded by Abba Aregawi, one of the Nine Saints, the isolated monastery holds priceless Aksumite manuscripts and royal relics. Monks and adventurous travellers speak of phantom monastic chants, glowing angelic apparitions, and mysterious protective serpents guarding the summit.