This simple frontier town is a city of great importance as the ancient capital of Ethiopia. According to local legend, Axum was home to the Queen of Sheba and the current resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Exploring Axum, and its ancient relics will afford a sense of adventure and imagination as you are guided through this mysterious and historic place. The history of the area includes the Archaeological museum of Axum and the Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion. The original church was built by Emperor Fasiladas, founder of Gonder, in 1665. It’s thought that this church is built on the original foundations of a temple build by King Ezana or King Kaleb in the 4th or 6th centuries, making this the oldest Christian site in Africa.