The city of Axum had been the capital of the Axumite Empire. The significance of the city lies in its historic places and monuments. There are ancient obelisks and pre Christian places which attesting at a high level of advancement in art and architecture. The finest of these obelisks, more commonly referred as "stelae" stand in the so-called, "park of stelae". Here there are many giant obelisks carved from solid granite.

The most massive of these is believed to have fallen to the ground more than thousand years ago it measures 33.5 meter's. It is thought to be the largest single piece of stone ever successfully quarried and erected in the ancient world. The fallen stelae is hewn to mimic a high, slender building of thirteen stories, each storey with representations of windows and other details. At the base can be discovered a false door complete with a knocker and lock, all perfectly carved in stone.

Another fallen but smaller and unbroken obelisk was stolen during the Italian occupation of 1935- 41, transported with difficult and re-erected in Rome at Piazza di Porta. There has been effort by Ethiopian Governments for its return since the period of Emperor Haile silasse.

The third decorated monolith still remains in the stelae park. This stelae is 24 meters high and is topped with a curved headpiece shaped like a half moon. Several other stelae of varying sizes stand ranged around this refined monument. In addition to this there are lots of historical objects in the city of Axum. One can visit the oldest church in Ethiopia, the church of saint Mary of Zion. The city of Axum is literally a museum without walls, filled with remains left by history and it allows visitors to return to the past. In the surrounding of the city of Axum too there are many sites with historical significance. The monastery of Debre Damo and the pre Axumite center of Yeha are some of them.

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