Presentation

The purpose of this large photographic presentation is that of representing the city of Asmara from an architectural point of view without omitting, however, those of its characteristics aspects that somehow also tell its history. Much of its original beauty remains hidden beyond heavy walls set up during the Marxist Era to be protected from a dangerous situation and this, together with the characteristic vegetation which covers a great part of the walls and fences around the buildings, makes the work of a faithful graphic representation difficult. Many are the images which show, as well, what the city suffered during the period of the Marxist Revolution and what difficult task lies ahead to overcome it.

The pictures here shown include not just the buildings of the Colonial Era but also those building of very recent construction of which many are indeed remarkable and point to a turning point which clearly shows what the Eritreans are up to: to make of Asmara the most appreciated jewel of Africa and, moving around among what recently built or under construction it clearly appears that they are on the right track. Among these last mentioned little space is given here to those new massive structures which appear mostly in the city's panoramic section since, from a purely aesthetic point of view they do not represent the beauty and the art which are the heart of this small city.

The pictures want to be, as well, a demonstration of what has been done and of what remains to be done to give back to Asmara its original splendor, a hard task in a moment when the State is going through a very difficult economy. But restoration works appear here and there even if the inadequate available means do not allow fast works.

Only licensed professional photographers with an official permit are allowed the use of the camera freely everywhere and this unfortunately limits the photographic work in several places where the architecture of the Colonial Era, artfully restored, is mostly represented thus making this photographic display somewhat incomplete.

Toponymy

Asmara’s toponymy faithfully represents five historical periods: the Italian Colony; the British Administration; the period of the federation and subsequent annexation of Eritrea to the Ethiopian Empire; the period of Hailemariam Mongustu’s Marxist Revolution and, lastly, the actual period of the Eritrean Independence.

As an example we have: Via Romolo Gessi (Italian period); Ras Dashan Street (Ethiopian period); Maj. Abebe Dantew Street (Marxist period) and lastly Street 173-1 of the actual period and these changes represent the same road. This makes it difficult to classify the pictures within the historical framework in accordance with the toponymic zone. The actual toponymy depicts a great part of the streets, avenues and squares of the city in accordance with a plain numerical classification which turns the heat of a name loaded with meaning into the coldness of a number divesting the city of a chapter of that great novel which goes under the name of history and culture. Besides, in the new toponymy nomenclature, the majority of streets and adjacent squares have been renamed with a single name.

Choosing as far as possible a middle way, to name the folders containing the pictures and the pictures themselves where the location is represented by a single number the city’s municipal toponymy of Dott. Ing. Bruno Mazzetti during the municipal administration of the Major Deggiasmac Hagos Ghebre will be used adding the prefix "ex" to the folder's name. Some buildings will also be indicated on the bases of a former owner’s names ("bldg ex ...") to make an orientation easier for those who have been living for a long time in Eritrea; as well others will be grouped under an arbitrary "zone ex ..." . All this with the purpose of avoiding a directory with a disproportionate number of folders. Where necessary a small explanatory note will be found in the folder.

Graphics

With the era of digital technology and the easiness with which thousands upon thousands of pictures can be obtained at a cost nearing zero after the initial investment, the art of traditional photography has given way to the art - or better, technique, of photographic enhancement. The pictures here submitted are not enhanced and they can be greatly improved to anyone's personal liking. All the pictures, taken since January 2007, have an original resolution of 3200 x 2000 Pixels (6.02 MPixels - print size from DPI = 7640.3 x 5080.0 cm; 3008.0 x 2000.0 inches) which will allow the perception of all minor details. Note that examining the pictures to the desktop's size in some cases will show distortion in the pattern of "Moire Fringes": overlapping lines or circular distortion in particular in brickworks.

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