GONDAR. – City of Ethiopia, chosen as the capital of the kingdom by the negus Fā-siladas (1632–67) and enriched with a splendid royal palace composed of several buildings, in whose construction Portuguese workers took part. The ruins of these buildings (castles of G.) testify to the magnificence of the construction. Since 25 March 1937, it has been the seat of an apostolic prefecture dependent on the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Church.
BIBL.: F. Beguinot, La Cronaca abbreviata d'Abissinia, Rome 1901; Annuario Pontificio, 1950, p. 681. Mariano Baffi