Possibly the earliest expression of the iconic Gondarine style, of which the the 17th century Fasil Ghebbi in Gondar is the most famous example, reflecting Indo-Portuguese and old Aksumite influences.
“The strong walls of Guzara castle have stood watch over Lake Tana for at least four centuries.
It is thought to have been built by Emperor Sarsa Dengal also known as Sarsa the Great in 1572, to commemorate his victory over the Ottoman Empire. Although in ruins, Guzara Palace is still an impressive sight and is a fine example of the architectural style of the early Gondarine period.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Guzara Castle is located not far from the north-eastern shores of Lake Tana, on the road between Bahir Dar and Gondar, around 25km north of the town of Addis Zemen.
The castle has two storeys with a rectangular floor plan of about 18m by 12 m along with three-storey round corner towers on the southerner end.
The ground floor is divided into five rooms, one large and four small adjacent rooms.
The castle is surrounded by a big enclosure, in which the ruins of the Guzara structure, with its four well preserved pillars are still standing today.
The castle reflects important features of the Gondarine architectural style, such as round and egg-shaped corner towers; terraced roofing with crenellated parapets and arched windows and doors decorated with capitals of white limestone.” – Worqamba Tour