Sejur Eritrea

Shining collection of colonial arhitecture

Eritrea stretches along the Red Sea and is a low-lying coastal area with a mountainous interior.
On the Red Sea Coast, the sultry town of Massawa is redolent with Islamic influence. It is also the starting point for visits to the Dahlak Islands, one of the least spoilt and least known reefs in the Red Sea. Southern Eritrea features a superb array of archaeological sites that recount volumes of history. It is not permitted to photograph government or military buildings. The apocalyptic wasteland of Dankalia, stretching to the south, is considered one of the most arresting places on earth and has a desolate magnetism. Eritrea`s nine colourful ethnic groups are diverse and individual, and are a major highlight.
Although the country faces numerous hardships, it paradoxically remains one of Africa`s most peaceful, secure and welcoming destinations.
On the bright side, unlimited opportunities for off-the-beaten-track exploration abound. Who knew that Asmara, the capital, boasts the most shining collection of colonial architectural wonders in Africa. It is like a film set from an early Italian movie, with vintage Italian coffee machines and outstanding examples of Art-Deco architecture. The Turkish and Egyptian colonial periods left their legacy in the form of numerous interesting buildings and sites, and the cuisine reflects the period of Italian rule. The Italians were expelled by the British in 1941. After the departure of the British, Eritrea was merged into Ethiopia in a federal arrangement brokered by the UN in 1952 and incorporated fully into Ethiopia 10 years later.
Despite its many vicissitudes, Eritrea boasts an abundance of natural attractions, including a vast array of wildlife. Native to the country are elephants, lions, baboons, gazelles, leopards, ostriches and turtles. Off any of Eritrea`s stunning beaches, it is not uncommon to see angelfish, barracudas, butterfly fish and several varieties of crabs, sea cucumbers and jellyfish beneath the azure ocean waters.
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If you will arrive in Asmara on a clear day you’ll fall in love with this diamond of a capital. Peaceful neighbourhoods, pavement cafés with vintage Italian coffee machines, cheery pizza parlours, tantalising pastry shops, a relaxed pace of life. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a southern Italian town. And there’s the fabulous architecture, with a melee of architectural wonders from the Italian era. The balmy climate is another draw, Asmara is bathed in sunshine eight months of the year.
The battered economy and the clampdown on civil liberties have taken their toll over past years, and it shows. Gone is the dolce vita, life of luxury belt-tightening is now the order of the day, with power cuts, queues in front of food stores, slack business, and deserted streets at night.
Though only about 100km to the east of Asmara, Massawa could not be more different from the capital. Entering the old town, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re in Zanzibar or Yemen, and it’s pure joy to explore the alleyways and streets flanked by low whitewashed buildings, porticoes and arcades. Sadly, Massawa was all but flattened during the struggle for independence, and many visitors are shocked by the derelict state of a number of historical buildings. Restoration has started but the process is slow due to lack of funds.
The Red Sea Coast, luckily, the Eritrean coast has remained wild, pristine and untouched, nothing comparable with, Egypt. There`s a lot to love about this area: hundreds of kilometres of luscious coastline, a historic city and a fantastic archipelago. In Dahlak Archipelago pristine reefs awaiting exploration, good snorkeling sports and traditional communities. Monastery of Debre Libanos is a monastery clinging to a rockface and a fantastic day’s hike amidst splendid scenery. Qohaito are ancient ruins that give plenty to ponder, awesome canyons, jagged mountain peaks and lovely vistas.
Dankalia is one of the most inhospitable areas on earth, with a desolate magnetism, almost a surreal experience.
On the bright side, unlimited opportunities for off-the-beaten-track exploration abound. Who knew that Asmara, the capital, boasts the most shining collection of colonial architectural wonders in Africa. It is like a film set from an early Italian movie, with vintage Italian coffee machines and outstanding examples of Art-Deco architecture.
The Turkish and Egyptian colonial periods left their legacy in the form of numerous interesting buildings and sites, and the cuisine reflects the period of Italian rule.
The Italians were expelled by the British in 1941. After the departure of the British, Eritrea was merged into Ethiopia in a federal arrangement brokered by the UN in 1952 and incorporated fully into Ethiopia 10 years later.
It is not permitted to photograph government or military buildings in Eritrea.