A huge paved plaza in the southern part of central Addis, Meskel Square serves as the city's main ceremonial space. For much of the year it is a traffic circle and open expanse, but during major festivals — particularly the Meskel celebration in September and Timkat (Ethiopian Epiphany) in January — it fills with extraordinary crowds.
Even on an ordinary day, the scale of the square is impressive. It is flanked by the Opera House, the Ethiopian Television building, and several government ministries. The statue of the Lion of Judah, seized by Italian forces during the occupation and returned from Rome in 1960, stands near the northern end. It is a good reference point for navigating the city.