Asmara, formerly known as Asmera, meaning “Made them United” in Tigrigna, the national language, is the capital city of Eritrea, in East Africa. When Eritrea was occupied by the Italians in 1889, Asmara was made the capital in preference to Massawa by Governer Martini in 1897. During the Italian colonial rule, architecturally conservative early 20th century Europeans used Asmara with radical new designs. Leaving today’s city with a major part of the buildings of Italian origin, and many still with Italian names (ie. Bar Vittoria, Pasticceria Moderna, Casa del Formaggio, and Ferramenta). After the Italians came the British, from 1941 to 1952, during which time many of the industries were shipped out to alternative colonies like India and Kenya. And from the late forties hostilities started towards the British. However, in 1952 The United Nations stepped
... read more