This is a unique and exquisite collection of photographs of Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, illustrated with poetry by one of Eritrea's leading writers, in the original language, and translated into English. Containing erudite and accessible explanatory narratives of the history; culture; economic, linguistic, and spiritual life of the peoples of Eritrea, this is a rare publication to emanate from this fascinating, but little-known and historically isolated country. The book testifies to the rich blend of African, Arabic, and European influences that shape the identity of the city. It exposes the sensual and aesthetic nature of the indigenous culture, and the rich heritage of modernist architecture from the 1930s, as well as the less savory Italian fascist legacy from the same period that still influences the culture and languages of the peoples today.