Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa (the name means 'new flower') is the capital of Ethiopia and is a city of great vibrancy and colour. A modern, bustling city, it is home to over 4 million people, with over 80 languages spoken and good quality restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisine.
Situated in the foothills of the Entoto Mountains and standing 2,400 metres above sea level Addis Ababa is the third highest capital in the world. It is also the capital of the African Union and is the regional home for many international organisations, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN-ECA), the World Bank the European Commission. The city also hosts over 100 embassies and heads of diplomatic missions, and is the main commercial, financial, industrial and service provision centre for the country.
The city was founded in the late nineteenth century by Empereor Menelik II. It is also home to Addis Ababa University, formerly known as Haile Selassie I University, after the former Emperor of Ethiopia, who donated his Guenete Leul Palace to be the University main campus in 1961.
