Mariam Dearit

At Mariam Dearit on the edge of Keren a statue of the Madonna stands inside the hollow trunk of a large baobab, which is the whole of the shrine and the reason people come, and a pilgrimage on 29 May each year brings very large crowds from across Eritrea. The tree is said to have sheltered soldiers during the fighting of the 1940s. It stands in open ground with the Keren hills behind.

What you actually see

• The baobab - the hollow trunk the statue stands inside.
• The Madonna - the figure placed within the tree.
• The 29 May pilgrimage - the annual gathering that fills the site.
• The setting - open ground below the hills around Keren.

When to go

Year round; the shrine is open. The pilgrimage falls on 29 May and brings very large crowds. Mornings are cooler at Keren's lower altitude.

Honest expectations

It is a single tree and a statue; the visit takes minutes outside pilgrimage time. It is an active religious site and behaviour matters. Photography restrictions apply across the country.

Nearby

Keren is beside it, and the camel market is in the town.