Asmara or Āsmera, capital and largest city of Eritrea, located on a plateau near the Red Sea port of Massawa (Mits’iwa). An important rail and road hub, the city relies on Massawa’s port facilities. It grew with the development of industries such as tanning, lumber and flour milling, vegetable processing, and the manufacture of perfumes, glass, cement, bricks, and buttons. A technical and professional school is located in the city, as is Asmara University (1954).

Asmara succeeded Massawa as capital of Eritrea in 1900, when Eritrea was an Italian colony. Eritrea federated with Ethiopia in 1952. When Eritrea became independent in 1993, Asmara again became the capital. Population 563,948 (2005 estimate).