Sites Tourists Enjoy at Ease in Eritrea

Sites Tourists Enjoy at Ease in Eritrea

Seare Habtemichael

Eritrea is gifted with innumerable sites of historical monuments and natural attractions. The country’s recorded history is believed to go as far back as the Stone Age. Hence, the country is known as the cradle of history, and the recent discovery one of the first human ancestors, Ms. Buya, aged more than a million years old is sufficient evidence.

The country also possesses a varied history that makes it a potential destination for tourists interested in the history of both the Islamic and Christian religions, as well as architectural and cultural attractions. The monasteries, mosques, churches, palaces and monuments in the country are associated with the establishment of Christianity in the 4th century and the development of Islam in the 7th century

The country’s capital, Asmara, itself is much to interest to visitors because it is most of the times known around the world as “the museum piece of architecture.”. The city is always admired for its majestic building styles. It is unique for it is a complete Art Deco city. It is well- known that Asmara represents an outstanding architectural heritage with the greatest concentration of the most advanced 1930s architecture in the world. It is said that in the 1940s, Asmara was one of the dazzling international modern cities in the world.

Asmara is situated on a plateau some 115kms away from the Red Sea port of Massawa. It stands in the cool central, and atop of the eastern escarpments. It was established early in the beginning of the 20th century with the advent of Italian colonialism in Eritrea. The city is connected with the port city of Massawa with amazing stem locomotive travels and impressive highway zigzagging down from above 2200 meters to the sea level.

Taking a closer look around the city, one would observe that the buildings of the city stand for living monument for the 20th century wonderful inventions. Many of the apartments and villas look like ships floating in a sea. Some others, such as the Fiatagliero building looks like a flying jet plane. Many other buildings symbolize Guglielmo Marconi’s invention, the radio receiver. Hence, Asmara is a memory of architectural heritage of the 1920s of the Italian colonial times.

More than anything else, the city is special for its cleanliness and good network of transportation. The hotels or accommodations in the city are suitable for all kinds of pockets; whether it is business trip or a leisure vacation. The city is active twenty-four hours. The various pubs, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs provide tourists with striking native dishes, international delicacies, alcoholic drinks and beverages. More importantly, however, Asmara is loved by many as one of the most peaceful, charming, and civilized cities in the world not only for its climate and setting but also for the calm dignity of its citizens.

This is common throughout the major Eritrean cities in the country. More than any thing else the security, and the hospitable citizens of capital make tourists feel at home. The people of Eritrea are very friendly; they have the belief that, “a guest at home is god at home.”

The coastal planes make available to tourists, wild ass, one of the world’s most wildernesses. The country is also known for its underwater tourism attractions.

It shares a 1,000km underwater paradise from the Red Sea coast. It takes pleasure in pristine coastal waters, healthy coastal habitat, and safe and secure environment with excellent diving opportunities, as well as beautiful beaches.

TheEritreanRedSea is particularly rich in coral reefs. Such an exiting marine biodiversity adds extra tint to the Eritrean underwater paradise. According to the Eritrean Tourism Service Association, international divers may appreciate the colorful underwater life in Eritrea with the help of snorkeling and scuba diving in some of the Dahlak Archipelago environs including: Desie, Nakura, Kundbulu, Dahlak, Durgam, and Durgela.

Besides, the Eritrean Red Sea waters possess the largest number of ancient and wartime wreck ships. There exist loads of wreck ships ruined during the two biggest World Wars. It is not worth mentioning the bulk of Ethiopian wreck ships destroyed by the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front.

Hence, the historical ships in the Eritrean Red Sea are “a dream comes true” to the international wreck ship diving tourist divers. Studies have discovered that the Dahlak Kebir Island in the Gubbet Musnefit area harboring some Italian wreck ships from WWII. Some of them include: Nazario Sauro, Urania, promoeteo, Giuseppe Mazzini, Bottego ...etc.

Likewise, the Eritrean Red Sea possesses natural sandy beaches. Swimming, fishing, and other water sports are common on the offshore waters. The largest Coastal beach is located at Gurgusum. Ras Artau on Buri Peninsula, and Mersa Gulbub, Mersa Ibramin and Ras Kubae are also among the potential coastal beaches. Not only this, but also the Eritrean Red sea is attractive for it possesses more than 350 islands out of which the Dahlak archipelago ranks the biggest archipelago comprising some 210 islands. Hence, Eritrea serves a cruise tourism supported by yacht stopovers, small ship cruises in the Eritrean Red Sea for the islands lovers.

Eritrea also consists of a low and arid coastline along the Red Sea. Adventure tourists may cruise down the southeastern portion of the coastal plain and enjoy the Denakil Depression, one of the sites with the highest temperatures recorded on earth. It is the lowest point of the country, Lake Kulul, located 75 meters below sea level.

Besides, the country is suitable for hunter tourists with the hobby of mountain climbing and river swimming. Amba-Soira stands the highest mountain in the country, 3,000 metres above the sea level. It is located on the central plateau of the country.

A special taste for tourists is the sites of the liberation struggle situated in the bleak mountains of the Sahel, northern angle of Eritrean. However, one must be willing to enjoy the arduous journey across the rough terrain mountains to visit these miraculous EPLF defenses, trenches, bunkers of Nakfa, Himbol and the Roras Plateaus, and the Denden terrains.

Also of interest to tourists in the country is the rich cultural tourism; it possesses a variety of archaeological and historic and architectural heritages. There exist abundant historic artifacts that typify the country as part of the ancient civilization. The antique port cities of Adulis, and Zula at one time, served as regional trade centers linking Asia and Africa. It is believed that things such as ivory and gold arrive in Adulis from inland, and silks and spices come from India, and perfumes and spices from Arabia. The ancient state of Aksum carried out import-export matters through the port city of Adulis. The country also possesses many historical and religious ruins including Kohaito, Mete’ra, keskese.

Eritrea also possesses cave paintings dated as far back as the Stone Age. Geometric and abstract style cave paintings have been depicted around the environs of Adi keyih, Maelewuya, Hshmele, Daero Paulos, Karura, and so on. Other Realistic and Engraved painting styles are scattered around the environs of Zban Kebesa, Eyago, Zban Abuur, and so and so forth. This indicates that the territory of today’s Eritrea, tens of thousands years ago, was settled by humans who can express their idea through such an art of communication, which again signifies the stage of the civilization the then communities lived. Paintings such as these are for sure the basis of modern greatest paintings. Hence, Eritrea is one of the greatest tourist attractions of ancient cave paintings.

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