🇪🇷 Asmara, Eritrea

At a glance

IANA timezone

Africa/Asmera

Country

Eritrea

Population

592,366

Latitude

15.3333

Longitude

38.9333

Demonym

—

Founded

1897

Area

12,158.1 km²

Elevation

2325 m

Airports

—

About Asmara

Asmara, or Asmera, is the capital and most populous city of Eritrea, in the country's Central Region. It sits at an elevation of 2,325 metres (7,628 ft), making it the sixth highest capital in the world by altitude and the second highest capital in Africa. The city is located at the tip of an escarpment that is both the northwestern edge of the Eritrean Highlands and the Great Rift Valley in neighbouring Ethiopia. In 2017, the city was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved Italian modernist architecture. According to local traditions, the city was founded after four separate villages unified to live together peacefully after long periods of conflict. Asmara existed as a major settlement for over half a millennium and enjoyed some importance as it stood on the trade route to Massawa. Asmara first rose to prominence during the 20th century, when it became capital of Italian Eritrea. Under Italian rule the city of Asmara experienced rapid urbanization and modernization, to the point that was called Piccola Roma.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC-BY-SA 4.0)

Upcoming public holidays in Eritrea

• 2026-05-27Feast of the Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha)

All 2026 Eritrea holidays →

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