Location: Massawa
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What to do and see in Massawa, Eritrea: The Best Places and Tips
Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa, Miṣṣiwa, Batsiʿ, is a city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea located at the northern end of the Gulf of Zula beside the Dahlak Archipelago. An important port for many centuries, it was ruled by a succession of polities, including the Axumite Empire, Medri Bahri Kingdom, the Umayyad Caliphate, various Beja sultanates, the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, Italy, Britain, and Ethiopia, until Eritrea's independence in 1991. Massawa was the capital of the Italian Colony of Eritrea until this was moved to Asmara in 1897.
1. Ferrovia Coloniale Massawa-Asmara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By Ihab Z - Eastpointe, Michigan
On our first tour planned for Eritrea, the trip included Asmara and the deserted town of Massawa. I have to say that despite how destroyed and how ruined the old city is, it had an amazing character. You almost feel you are walking into an old history chapter book.. the streets are semi-deserted, the beautufil Ottoman homes, and colonial buildings and majestic turn-of-the century palaces are nothing but ruins. That by itself added so much charm. The photo ops are amazing and people in this old town are very friendly and invite you into their humble homes. We did not have enoygh time to visit some of the Islands but Massawa deserves an added day to enjoy its nature as well. The Red Sea, clean and unexplored is so different tghan the Red Sea you encounter in Egypt where it is overbuilt and so modern you feel you are in Vegas. No visit to Eritrea is complete without visiting Massawa.
2. Memorial Plaza for Victims of Massawa Battle
Overall Ratings
4 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By BPJH - Chiang Rai, Thailand
The printed history of Eritrea's last century or so is moving and terrible enough, but these tanks (and the little boats outside the museum) are a reminder of the thousands of lives lost as Eritrea pursued its ultimatey successful dream of independence against such withering and endless odds.
3. Former Imperial Palace
Overall Ratings
4 based on 4 reviews
4. Covered Bazaar
5. St. Mariam Cathedral
6. Adulis
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By albertopiccardo - Genova, Italia
Il luogo è fuori dalle normali rotte turistiche, bisogna ottenere i permessi, ma se si trova una guida locale non è poi difficile arrivarci da Massaia con un fuoristrada. Nella vicina Foro c'è possibilità di mangiare. Il luogo è abbandonato per una gran parte dell'anno, gli scavi durano pochi mesi l'anno. Ma se avete la fortuna di trovare una buona guida locale vi spiegherà quello che è stato scavato. Era un porto sul mar Rosso della civiltà Axumita, ma oggi dista circa 7 km dal mare. Alcuni edifici fanno comprendere l'importanza del sito che è ancora molto da scavare.
7. Former Banco d'Italia
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By わたか - Tokyo, Japan
こちらも旧皇帝宮殿同様に破壊されています。が、すごく貴族の邸宅のような美しい建物です。柱や天井のアーチが美しい。アフリカらしからぬ、立派な建物です。この旧イタリア銀行の周囲にも美しい建物が多々あるのですが、その中に警察署として使われているの建物もあるので、写真撮影に注意してください。
8. Shaafi Mosque
9. Massawa Mosque
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