The East African country Eritrea has been named a ‘mini Italy’, and with their close links within history, it’s no surprise. In 1890, Eritrea became an Italian colony and was the main base for the Italian invasion of Ethiopia from 1896 to 1936. Eritrea won its independence in 1993, however the essence of Italy still lingers.
When you enter the city of Asmara, it feels as though time has frozen and you’ve stepped into 1930s Italy. The Fiat Tagliero gas station, cinema Impero, Teatro Asmara and even Cinema Roma set the scene of a time long ago. They even have an abundance of Italian cuisine.
From spaghetti, pizza, macchiato and gelato - you’ll begin to think your mind is playing tricks on you. Another feature that illuminates this 1930s setting is the country's lack of internet. It’s not that it doesn’t exist over there; however it's limited and very expensive.
“It’s a cafe society,” one local told travel journalist Joe HaTTab, “We drink coffee and chat”. The country is located on the Horn of Africa, by the Red Sea, with its coastal location being very important in its history and culture. The Red Sea served as a vital trading route that brought Christianity and Islam to the region.
By controlling ports along the Eritrean coast, nations like Turkey, Egypt, and Italy aimed to control this market. Ethiopia became the dominant force in the second half of the 20th century, and the Eritrean people had to break free from it in order to establish their own stat.
