Asmara, estimated population 400,000 (1996), is the capital of Eritrea. Textiles and clothing, processed meat, beer, shoes, and Ethiopian regional administrative center. It became the capital of the Italian colony of Eritrea in 1900. In the late 1930s the Italians changed the face of the town, with a new structure and new buildings; Asmara was called "Piccola Roma" (Little Rome). Nowadays the major part of buildings are of Italian origin, and shops still have Italian names (Bar Vittoria, Pasticceria moderna, Casa del formaggio, Ferramenta, etc...).
During the Eritrean war for independence from Ethiopia, Asmara's airport became key in the conflict, and it was used by the Eritreans to obtain arms and supplies from outside supporters. The city was liberated by the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) on May 24th, 1991, and became a part of Eritrea when the country gained its independence (1993).
Eritrea is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered on the northeast and east by the Red Sea.
The main cities of the country are the capital city of Asmara and the port town of Assab in the southeast, as well as the towns of Massawa and Keren.
In 1993 the Eritrean Orthodox Church was granted autocephaly, and in 1998 the Archbishopric of Asmara, the young nation's capital, was elevated to the rank of patriarchate of Eritrea, within the Coptic church.
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