Axum, Ethiopia's most ancient city, and capital of one of the most glorious empires of the past, is one of the most illustrious links in the Historic Route. The Axumite Empire flourished 3,000 years ago. Its riches can still be pictured on the magnificent stelae or obelisks, the graves of King Kaleb and King Gebre Meskal, and the legendary bath of the Queen of Sheba. The 16th Century Cathedral of St Mary of Zion was built based on an earlier 4th Century church, and is the holiest church in Ethiopia. In its sanctuary is said to rest the original Ark of the Covenant. The churches and monasteries.

There are three most important being decorated to represent multi-storied buildings, complete with doors and windows. The largest obelisk, which was 35 meters long and weighed 500 tons, is the biggest piece of stone ever cut by humanity anywhere in the world but today it lies broken on the ground. Near it stands a smaller but nevertheless most impressive 24m high obelisk – the pride of Ethiopia. A somewhat larger obelisk was taken to Rome, on the orders of the Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, in 1937, and came back to Axum recently, re-erected on which it was. Axum, in its glory days, was a great commercial centre, issuing its own currency and trading with Egypt, Arabia, Persia, India & Israel.

Axum was home to the Queen Makeda, widely known as Queen of Sheba whose ruined palace and bathing pool can still be found in and near the town.

Axum is the location of the Church of St Mary of Zion, where The Ark of the Covenant, which housed the Ten Commandments of the Bible is said to have been placed by MenelikI (Ibin Hakim), son of King Solomon, 3000 years ago; a connection with the legendary Queen of Sheba (based  on book of  glory of kings)  or transported from Jerusalem – Elephantine island, in Mediterranean sea – Cherkos Monastery on Lake Tana and finally from Cherkos Monastery  to Axum by the command of  first Christian King Ezana (4th Century) as it is explained  in the book of The Sign & the Seal written Graham Hancook, a British journalist and travel writer.  St. Mary of Zion Church is the oldest of all churches in Ethiopia, rich for its historic and ecclesiastical relics. The Ark of the Covenant- is apparently stored in the Church of St Mary of Zion, but only one living person (monk), the guardian of the Ark is allowed to see it. The story in connection with the Ark; any Ethiopian Orthodox Christian and some scholars like Graham Hancook assure you it is true!