The Imperial Palace
Many arches.
Mheidegger — CC BY 4.0 · Mheidegger — CC BY 4.0 · Reinhard Dietrich — CC0 · Reinhard Dietrich — CC0 · Reinhard Dietrich — CC0
Massawa Old Town is the historic quarter of Massawa, Eritrea's Red Sea port, at the northern end of the Gulf of Zula near the Dahlak Archipelago. Massawa was an important port for many centuries, and its historic town sits on two islands linked to the mainland by causeways. It is one of the hottest coastal areas in the world. Massawa seems to have emerged as a port between the 8th and 10th centuries. It was ruled in turn by the Dahlak Sultanate, the Ottoman Empire, Khedivate Egypt and Italy, and was the Italian colony's capital until the seat moved to Asmara in 1897. Each era left its mark on its distinctive stone architecture. You see houses of coral stone with pointed arches and carved wooden balconies, some restored and many crumbling. The quarter has the old Imperial Palace with its many arches, mosques with white minarets and Ottoman-style merchant houses. Calm turquoise water and small boats surround the islands. It is about 5 km from the modern town centre in a straight line. The summer heat is extreme, so visit in winter in the morning. Crumbling buildings are dangerous, so do not enter them. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Eritrea, and all travel near its land borders, so read the current advice before you plan.
Many arches.
Carved.
Around the islands.
Batsi and Taulud islands, Massawa, Eritrea
In winter, in the morning, as the heat is extreme.
Yes, the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Eritrea.