Debre Bizen Monastery
Debre Bizen
An Orthodox monastery founded in the 14th century on a mountaintop at about 2,400 metres. It is famous for its collection of ancient handwritten manuscripts and is open only to men.
Debre Bizen Monastery sits on a mountaintop about 25 km east of Asmara. It was founded in 1361 by a monk named Philipos and holds a large collection of ancient manuscripts in Ge'ez. From the town of Nefasit, the climb to the top takes two to three hours on a steep mountain path, with views over cliffs and clouds toward the Red Sea. You must apply for permission in Asmara in advance. Women are not allowed inside the monastery grounds, but they can view it from the foot of the mountain.
Opening hours
Permit required
Nearby sights
- Asmara–Massawa Railway
- Enda Mariam Cathedral
- Medebar Market
- Great Mosque of Asmara
- Cinema Impero
- Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary
- Harnet Avenue
- Asmara Theatre