Editing Asmara (section)

==Architecture==
The city is known for its early 20th-century buildings, including the [[Art Deco]] [[Cinema Impero]] (opened in 1937 and considered by the experts one of the world's finest examples of Art Déco style building<ref>Gianluca Rossi, ''Renzo Martinelli inviato de La Nazione'', 2009.</ref>), Cubist Africa Pension, eclectic Eritrean Orthodox [[Enda Mariam Cathedral, Asmara|Enda Mariam Cathedral]] and former [[Opera House]], the [[futurist architecture|futurist]] [[Fiat Tagliero Building]], the [[neo-Romanesque architecture|neo-Romanesque]] [[Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Asmara]], and the [[neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] [[Governor's Palace (Asmara)|Governor's Palace]]. The city is adorned by Italian [[Colonisation|colonial]] [[villa]]s and [[mansions]], one prominent example being the [[World Bank Building, Asmara|World Bank Building]]. Most of central Asmara was built between 1935 and 1941, so the [[Italians]] effectively managed to build almost an entire city in just six years.<ref name="Reviving Asmara">{{cite news   |title=Reviving Asmara    |publisher=[[BBC Radio 3]] |date=19 June 2005  |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/sundayfeature/pip/kg9k6/  |access-date=30 August 2006}}</ref> At this time, the dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] had great plans for a second [[Roman Empire]] in Africa. War cut this short, but his injection of funds created the Asmara of today, which supposedly was to be a symbol to the colonial [[fascism]] during that period of time.

The city shows off most early 20th-century architectural styles. Some buildings are [[neo-Romanesque architecture|neo-Romanesque]], such as the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, some villas are built in a late [[Victorian Architecture|Victorian]] style. Art Deco influences are found throughout the city. Essences of [[Cubism]] can be found on the Africa Pension Building, and on a small collection of buildings. The [[Fiat Tagliero Building]] shows almost the height of futurism, just as it was coming into big fashion in Italy.

Asmara is known to be an exceptionally modern city, not only because of its architecture, but Asmara also had more [[traffic lights]] than [[Rome]] did when the city was being built.<ref name="Reviving Asmara"/> The city incorporates many features of a planned city.

===Restaurants, bars, cafes===
Asmara has wide streets, restaurants, [[piazza]]s (town squares), [[Bar (establishment)|bar]]s and [[Coffeehouse|cafes]] while many of the boulevards are lined with palms trees. The [[Italy|Italian]] inspired food and culture is very present and was introduced during [[Italian Eritrea]]. Countless restaurants and cafes, serve high quality [[espresso]], [[cappuccino]]s and [[latte]]s, as well as [[gelato]] parlours and restaurants with [[Italian Eritrean cuisine]].<ref name="youtube.com"/> Common dishes served from the [[Italian Eritrean cuisine]] are 'Pasta al Sugo e Berbere', which means "pasta with tomato sauce and [[berbere]]" (spice), "[[lasagna]]" and "cotoletta alla milanese" (milano cutlet).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/eritrea/food-and-drink/ |title=Food and drink in Eritrea |publisher=Worldtravelguide.net |access-date=2020-06-08}}</ref><ref name="youtube.com">{{Citation|last=lorenzopinnavideo|title=Asmara, la più bella città africana|date=7 June 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlR5JBQLDXk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/OlR5JBQLDXk| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

{{Gallery
|title=
|width=200 | height=170
|align=left
|File:Cinema Roma, Asmara, Eritrea (30660000812).jpg
|The cafe and bar at the old Cinema Roma
|File:Sweet Asmara Caffe (8351473807).jpg
|A typical cafe in Asmara selling [[panettone]]
|File:Macchina Gaggia.jpg
|A vintage [[Gaggia]] [[espresso]] machine in a [[Bar (establishment)|bar]] in [[Eritrea]]. Vintage Italian machinery is common in most Asmara [[Coffeehouse|cafes]].
}}
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