Do you know about Little Rome and Africa? Asmara, a capital city in Eritrea, is often known as the Little Rome of Africa. There are many reasons why people call it a little piece of Rome, but beyond that, Asmara is famous for being the perfect place for a tour. Those who want to get the touch of Rome and African culture are an ideal place for them. Its architectural beauty attracts everyone. It was considered a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2017 for several reasons. This article is all about Asmara and how you can invest there.

Asmara: This place is known as Africa’s Little Rome, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2017. It is famous for having African and European influences.

Historical Significance: Asmara has historic architectural structures such as the Fiat Tagliero Building and Opera House, reflecting its evolution.

Cultural and Architectural Wonders: The combination of Italian and Eritrean architecture in the city draws everyone’s attention.

Tourism Potential: From walking tours to historical landmarks, Asmara has something for every traveler in every market, providing ample opportunities for tourism-centered investments.

Investment Opportunities: Asmara boasts many investment opportunities, ranging from tourism, real estate, and agriculture to cultural industries.

Asmara and the surrounding regions have been occupied by humans for over 500 years. Asmara derived its name from the Tigrinya expression “Arbate Asma.” That means that the four women united the villages. Historically, the women of the four villages united in an effort to protect themselves from raids and attacks by wild animals.

Asmara was declared the capital of Italian Eritrea in 1897. The Italians invested heavily in Asmara’s infrastructure to transform it into a modern urban center with lovely, aesthetic buildings. Many of these iconic buildings still stand in Asmara, a sign of that past infrastructure. The city was also known as Piccola Roma, little Rome. Among the famous buildings are the Fiat Tagliero Building, the Cinema Impero, and the Oman Catholic Cathedral, which are all masterpieces because of their iconic nature.

When Eritrea gained independence in 1993, Asmara was the capital. Asmara had been designed to be like Europe, with wide boulevards, public spaces, and trendy buildings. Presently, Asmara is surrounded by natural scenery, vibrant local markets, landmarks, cultural sites, and most notably, legendary buildings.

Asmara is located at an elevation of 2,325 meters above sea level. The climate in this country is fairly temperate, and the warm summer and temperate winter with an average yearly rainfall of around 663 mm (20.4 inches) give it a cooler climate.  Recent figures place Asmara as home to around 579,000 inhabitants. The town is estimated to be around 1,300 square kilometres and is the largest town in Eritrea. Its unique blend of Italian colonial architecture and African charm has seen it registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a cultural heritage since it synthesizes the Italian colonization and Eritrean culture. It is a unique blend of 2 distinct cultured themes that makes it a unique cultural and historical destination for travelers. Asmara has many iconic buildings built during the Italian colonial period. The urban planning of the city, including wide boulevards, public spaces, and well-planned neighborhoods, displays early modernist urban planning. Travelers are surprised at its old-fashioned ambiance.

Asmara Great Mosque (Al Khulafa Al Rashiudin Mosque) is a significant religious site for Muslims and a beautiful example of Islamic architecture in the city.

The Asmara Catholic cathedral is an important example of Lombard-Romanesque architecture.

Architectural Marvels of Asmama

• The Fiat Tagliero Building is an architectural marvel. This Futurist structure, shaped like an aeroplane, was built in 1938 but is still a landmark feature because of its peculiar design.
• Cinema Impero is a cinemahaven of art deco architecture and was opened in 1937. It’s an example of Italian colonial days, and now it’s even operational.
• National Museum of Eritrea was created in 1992. This museum honors Eritrea’s history, which has been ongoing since ancient times until today’s exhibitions.
• Liberation Avenue or Harnet Avenue is Asmara’s central avenue. It’s planned with great buildings and full of shops and cafes.
• The Opera House, built in 1918, is a very old building with beautiful curved staircases and a charming cafe.

Nature and Adventure Beauty- Mount Asmara is a popular trekking site. Tourists come here for views of the city and the surrounding hills from up top. Semenawi Bahri National Park is suitable for nature walks and birdwatching. It is a mountainous green park.

Modern Asmara and Cultural Sites – Modern Asmara boasts many local markets and cultural sites. Tourists purchase different commodities, such as local handicrafts, jewelry, etc. Such markets as the member market, one of the famous markets in Asmara, are a combination of Italian and Eritrean commodities.

Traditional Eritrean Cuisine- Besides the rightful landscapes and tourist sites, Eritrea offers many traditional foods, such as Indian foods. Injera is a sourdough flatbread which is prepared with teff, wheat, or sorghum. It was consumed by hand, with stews and sauces inside. Berberemix, tomatoes, and onions are mixed with a spicy beef stew, usually together with injera.

Shiro is a stew of chickpeas or broad beans. It is cooked with onions, garlic, and spices. It is usually consumed with injera. Alicha is a basic stew of vegetables or meat in a turmeric and spice stew. Ful is Stewed fava beans. It’s usually eaten for breakfast with bread and spices. So no question, this has to be the place for the tour. And if you wish to show a piece of Rome, then without a question, take a tour to Asmara. It’s adorned with Italian colonial architecture, charming cafés, vibrant markets, and cultural heritage. 

The city provides anyone with the feel of European sophistication and African tradition. Additionally, if you are an architecture lover or would adore knowing the history, you must not miss the destination in your tour list. Investment Opportunities in Asmara Besides tourism, Asmara is a good place to invest; there are many unseen investments here. Tourism to organic farming or farm-based agriculture is an opportunity, and each sector has various scope and opportunity.

Asmara is a UNESCO World Heritage due to its unique building style and a blend of African and European ambiance, so it is a perfect place to visit. And the tourism sector has already grown in Eritrea. It grew by 8.2% annually in the tourism sector of Eritrea, and Asmara is the prime destination. So, in this investment situation, where do you invest? 

Investors can invest

Boutique Hotels and guesthouses may be built as the demand for tourism increases, thus making this project perfectly suitable.

Tourism Agencies: Foreign visitors have guided tours very common. They want this kind of tour and love to see architectural marvels, bazaars, and national parks. Guided tours are profitable business ventures.

Cafés & Restaurants: Asmara’s Italian-style cafes also serve local and international cuisine needs.

Real Estate & Urban Development: Blessed with its historic structures and modern urban form, Asmara has huge real estate potential. The city’s population and business activity outweigh the present residential and commercial real estate, which is anticipated to grow at 6% annually. 

Restoration Projects: Providing services to convert colonial structures into usable commercial and residential structures.

Luxury Apartments & Office Spaces: As more companies enter the city, quality housing and office space are in demand.

A real-life occurrence: An Italian entrepreneur purchased a dilapidated colonial-style villa for $50,000 in 2015. He transformed it into a luxury apartment building and now earns approximately $800 per monthly unit, having recovered his investment in a relatively short period. Another example is Hotel Albergo Italian. This is Asmara’s oldest hotel. Once a group of investors refurbished the old building, it became increasingly popular. Then, it became one of the most famous boutique hotels and increased its occupancy rate. 

Agriculture & Organic Farming: Eritrea’s economy is based on agriculture, and about 80% of the employees work there. The demand for organic products has been astronomically high in the past decade, so this is a perfect industry. There is a need for organic spices and coffee in the outskirts of Asmara, so one can invest in that. Farmers have boosted exports to Ethiopia and Sudan by dealing in organic spices and coffee. Not only this, but in 5 years, he has also increased his revenue by 150%

A city with no historical heritage is providing various adventure activities to tourists. Besides, investors also have a chance to further develop the tourism sector. They can add some value, like, as most people are not aware of this jewel, they can promote this destination digitally as a tourist place. Other options are also available, like investing in agriculture, urban development, etc.

• Why is Asmara called the Little Rome of Africa?
• Asmara is called “Little Rome” due to its perfectly preserved Italian colonial architecture, wide boulevards, public plazas, and sophisticated buildings. Such an Italian architectural mixture with Eritrean culture makes it an extraordinary destination, which is often called a bit of Europe in Africa.
• Is Asmara a good investment destination?
• Indeed! Asmara offers diverse investment prospects, particularly in tourism, property, and agriculture. The growth potential of the city, its UNESCO recognition, and cultural distinctiveness render it a great choice for entrepreneurs and investors alike.
• What are Asmara’s must-see architectural highlights?
• Some of Asmara’s most notable landmarks include Fiat Tagliero Building, Cinema Impero, Catholic Cathedral, and Opera House. They showcase the Italian colonial heritage and modernist urban planning of the city.
• What can I find in Asmara’s local markets?
• Asmara’s traditional markets, such as the popular Medeber Market, retails a number of goods ranging from traditional craft, traditional jewellery, spices and Eritrean textiles. These are commonly blended with Italian-style goods due to the historical connection of the city with Italy.
• What kind of climate does Asmara have?
• Asmara has a gentle climate with gentle winters and warm summers. Being 2,325 meters high, it is cooler than much of the other cities in Africa and remains so year-round as a wonderful vacation spot.