Asmara
Perched on the eastern edge of Eritrea's highland plateau, Asmara enjoys a
great climate, clean and architecturally striking streets, and a reputation as
one of the safest capital cities in Africa. The city began life as four
villages - hence the meaning of its original name, Arbate Esmere - that were
founded by shepherds pleased with the local abundance of water. Travellers
used the place as a refreshing stopover on their way between the sea and
mountains and it eventually became a key trading post. In the late-19th
century, the all-colonising Italians decided Asmara was to become the jewel of
their east African empire and over the next 50 years proceeded to lavish the
town with their own cultural trimmings.
The magnificent Cathedral (1922), built in the Lombardian style, is not far
from a bustling market. There are a number of churches and mosques which can be visited. Marble from
Carrara quarry was used to build the largest mosque, Khalufa el
Rashidin. Gold and silver jewellery is on offer at the nearby market. Palms
and colourful bougainvillaea line the main avenues. The National Avenue is
the major thoroughfare of the city; an ideal place to meet people and enjoy
the numerous cafes and bars. The Avenue is also the address for the Government
Administrative Centre, the Asmara Theatre (built 1918), the Catholic Cathedral
and the Town Hall. The former residence of the colonial rulers, the Ghibi or
palace, is used today as the National Museum. The University and the Mai
Jahjah Fountain are also interesting.
The architectural touch can be seen all over the city, from the residential
area in the south, which still displays numerous Art-Deco villas, to the
buildings of what was (and still is) the administrative area in the north.
Liberation Ave is the main thoroughfare, running east to west, and a stroll
along here (starting at the western end) will take you past the Corinthian
columns of the Neoclassical Governor's Palace, the Romanesque portico of the
1920s Opera House, a Catholic cathedral thought to be the finest example of
its style (Lombard-Romanesque) outside Italy, and the imposing frontage of the
Cinema Impero.
Asmara's excellent National Museum exhibits on the nation's fight for independence, its nine ethnic
groups and its main archaeological sites. At the city's main market, you'll
find stalls selling household goods, fruit and vegetables, spices, pottery,
musical instruments, clothes and shoes, and wooden and metal
furniture, to name but a few of the items on offer. If you need a break from
spending all your nakfa, you can rest in the peaceful environs of City Park
or head out of town towards the airport to the Tank Cemetery, where you can
mourn the passing of hundreds of dumped tanks, armoured cars and other scrap
military metal.
Special thanks goes to www.asmera.nl and Silvio Niccolai
To see more pictures of ASMARA please visit www.asmera.nl
To see more pictures from Silvio Niccolai page please visit Silvio Niccolai
To see credit and a list of sources please visit ABOUT PAGE
To purchase a new photographic book entitled 'Asmara Beloved' please visit Sami Sallinen.
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