The African nation of Eritrea is situated on the coast of the Red Sea in northeast Africa. It has a population of about 4.5 million people with 435,000 of them living in the
capital city of Asmara. It has been an independent state since 1993. The country spreads itself out along the Red Sea and has a mountainous interior to complement its wonderful coastal
region of over 600 miles. There are many Egyptian and Turkish sites and buildings and the food has a large Italian influence as the country was once ruled by Italy. The country also
used to be a part of Ethiopia. Some of the other major centers are Massawa, Batsi, Twalet, Emberemi, Denden, Orota, Afabet, Keren, Akordat, and Assab.
The country is filled with some fantastic natural attractions and a wide variety of interesting African wildlife, both on land and at sea. The summer runs between April and August and
it can get quite hot. The western and central areas can get pretty cold between December and February. The rainy seasons are March and April, and late June to the early September.
There are several languages spoken, such as Arabic, Tigre, Tigrinya, and English. Most schools and businesses speak English.
The capital of Asmara features a lot of
Italian architecture and the
beautiful Cathedral is a fine example of this. There’s a busy market along with several mosques and churches. The main street is the National Avenue and it’s filled with bars and
cafes. The government’s administrative center is located on the avenue along with the Asmara Theater, the town hall, and the catholic cathedral. If you’d like to learn about the
local history and culture you should check out the National Museum. The Mai Jahjah Fountain and university are also well
worth looking into.
If you get the chance, travel the road between Asmara and Massawa as it offers some beautiful scenery with excellent views of the coastal desert area. The road also goes past the
Orthodox Monastery of Debre Bizen. When you reach Massawa, you’ll one of the deepest ports on the Red Sea. Where Asmara has a lot of Italian influence, Massawa is more Turkish and
Egyptian due to the Egyptian and Ottoman rules between the 16th and late 19th centuries. There are two small islands called Twalet and Batsi that are connected to the city.
Batsi has a mosque, cafes, restaurants, and bars while Twalet still has some fine Italian architecture. The nearby town of Emberemi is known for its mausoleums. The Egyptian and
Turkish colonial periods have left a lot of interesting sites and buildings in the town of Akordat and you’ll find Said Mustafa wad Hasan’s tomb here along with several major
archaeological sites.
If you’re flying into Eritrea, The main airport is in Asmara and you can take taxis and buses into town. There are major seaports in Massawa and Assab. There are weekly ferries between
Massawa and Jeddah. It’s a good idea to check with local authorities before traveling by road to other African countries.
Once you’re in Eritrea, you can take taxis and buses and travel from Asmara to Massawa by train. This is a great way to view the natural beauty of the country. The roads connecting the
main cities are pretty good and that’s another good way of seeing the scenery as you can rent cars there.
You’ll find some excellent food and a lot of the bigger cities specialize in Italian cuisine. Massawa is well known for its fresh seafood, especially lobster and prawns. Some of the
best local dishes are thin wheat bread, spongy pancakes, sautéed beef and lamb with hot peppers and fresh tomatoes, and lentil curry. Tea and espresso are popular drinks as are
locally-brewed beers and fruit juices.
Eritrea definitely has it all if you’re looking for excellent beaches, historical towns, wonderful food interesting architecture and spectacular scenery.
About Eritrea