14.07.2026 • 47 Min.

Is it possible to carve an entire holy city straight out of solid rock? In this episode of World Heritage Rookies, Ralf takes us to the highlands of Ethiopia to explore the incredible Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela. Known as Africa's "New Jerusalem," these 11 monolithic churches were not built from the ground up, but painstakingly chiseled top-down directly into the earth. We uncover the history behind King Lalibela's ambitious vision, the maze of dark underground tunnels connecting the structures, and why this active pilgrimage destination was recognized as one of the very first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978.