Asmara

Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people. Textiles and clothing, processed meat, beer, shoes, and ceramics are the major industrial products. Asmara is located at 15°20' North, 38°55' East (15.333, 38.91667). The spelling Asmera was formerly also used.

Contents

1 History
2 Features
3 Gallery
4 Further reading
5 External links

History

Asmara grew from four villages founded in the twelfth century. Originally, it is said, there were four clans living in the Asmara area on the Kebessa Plateau: the Gheza Gurtom, the Gheza Shelele, the Gheza Serenser and Gheza Asmae. Encouraged by their women, the men united the four clans and defeated the bandits who preyed on the area. After the victory, a new name was given to the place, Arbaete Asmara which literally means, in the Tigrinya language, "the four are united." Eventually Arbaete was dropped and it has been called Asmara, though there is still a zone called Arbaete Asmara. Another legend tells that in this region the Queen of Sheba gave birth to the son of Solomon, Menelik I. It was colonised by Italy in 1889 and became the national capital in 1897. In the early 20th century, a railway line was built to the coast, passing also through the town of Ghinda, under the direction of Carlo Cavanna. In the late 1930s the Italians changed the face of the town, with a new structure and new buildings; Asmara was called "Piccola Roma" (Little Rome). Nowadays the major part of buildings are of Italian origin, and shops still have Italian names (e.g. "Bar Vittoria", "Pasticceria moderna", "Casa del formaggio", "Ferramenta").

The Italian 1930's art deco style can clearly be seen here on the world bank building.

During the Eritrean war for independence from Ethiopia, Asmara's airport became key in the conflict, and it was used by the Ethiopians to obtain arms and supplies from outside supporters. The last town to fall to the Eritrean People's Liberation Front in the Eritrean War of Independence, it was besieged in 1990 and was surrendered by Ethiopian Army troops without a fight on May 24, 1991.In Asmara the main languages are Tigrinya, Tigre and Arabic. Italian and English are widely spoken and understood. "[link] Information about the languages of Eritrea"]. Retrieved 18 July 2006

Features

The city is home to the Eritrean National Museum and is known for its early twentieth century buildings, including the Art Deco Cinema Impero, Cubist Africa Pension, eclectic Orthodox Cathedral and former Opera House, the futurist Fiat Tagliero Building, neo-Romanesque Roman Catholic Cathedral and the neoclassical Governor's Palace. Other attractions include a bowling alley and a large market.

Asmara is also home to the University of Asmara and a nineteenth century fort. It is served by Asmara International Airport, and is connected to the port of Massawa by the Eritrean Railway.

Asmara is also the see of the archbishop of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, which became autocephalous in 1993. The archbishop was elevated in 1998 to the rank of Patriarchate of Eritrea, at par with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Asmara is known to be an exceptionally modern city, not only because of its architecture, but Asmara also had more traffic lights than Rome did when the city was being built. "[A BBC Radio 4 Programme about Asmara and its history]". Retrieved 18 July 2006.

The city has been regarded as "New Rome" or "Italy's African City" due to its quentessential Italian feel, in not only the architecture, but also the wide streets, piazas and coffee bars. It is easily possible to pick up a pizza anywhere in Asmara, and there are hundreds of coffee bars, serving cappucinos and lattes as well as ice cream parlours. The people in Asmara dress in an a unique, yet traditionally italian style.

Asmara has been proposed as a possible new addition to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. "[A BBC Radio 4 Programme about Asmara and its history]". Retrieved 18 July 2006.