Art Deco is a style of design that was very popular in the 1930s. The buildings have smooth, curved edges, big windows arranged in neat rows, and bold geometric shapes - a bit like architecture made from giant building blocks. In Asmara you can find a petrol station shaped like an aeroplane, a cinema that looks like a rocket, and a market building whose roof looks like a row of waves frozen in concrete.
Asmara sits on a high plateau called the Eritrean Highlands. Because it is so high up, the temperature is almost always pleasant - rarely too hot and rarely too cold. The city streets are broad and lined with tall trees, and the centre is famous for being very walkable and calm. Families stroll along the main boulevard, called Harnet Avenue, in the evenings, eating gelato and chatting.
The city was built by Italian settlers and local craftspeople together, mixing Italian Art Deco style with local materials and the tastes of Eritrean builders and workers. Today the Eritrean people are very proud of Asmara's unique look. Architects and tourists from all over the world visit to photograph its buildings.
One of the most beloved buildings is the Cinema Impero, which opened in 1937 and still screens films today. The post office has a sweeping curved front, and the former Opera House has a grand colonnade. Walking around Asmara feels a little like stepping into an old black-and-white film - except everything is sunny and in colour.