Mendefera (Tigrinya: መንደፈራ), formerly Adi Ugri, is an ancient town which is now the capital city of the Southern Region or Zoba Debub of Eritrea.

[1] The town's name derives from the high hill in the center of the city and it means that "who dared it" (in English) or "መን ደፈራ"( in Tigrinya) as it was a jungle and is a source of pride to Eritreans.

Though satisfactory excavations have not yet been made, a graveyard dating back to the 2nd century BCE has been found.

Mendefera is famous for its anticolonial movement during the Italian colonial administration and is a great fighter contributor of the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) as it is home to one of the oldest schools in Eritrea, San Giorgio School.

Except during the humid wet season of July and August when heavy cloud cover depresses temperatures by around 5 °C or 9.0 °F, daytime temperatures are very warm to hot; however, the thin, dry air means that mornings are pleasantly cool throughout the year.