Timeline of Asmara

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Asmara, Eritrea. Asmara was under Italian colonial rule from 1889 until 1941.

Prior to 20th century

 * circa 1515 CE - Four villages merge to become "Asmera" (traditional date).
 * 16th century - Asmara sacked by Muslim forces.
 * 1889 - 3 August: Asmara occupied by Italian forces under command of Baldissera.
 * 1895 - Governor's Palace built.
 * 1900 - Capital of colonial Italian Eritrea moved to Asmara from Massawa.

20th century

 * 1905 - Congresso Coloniale Italiano held in Asmara.
 * 1906 - Asmara Synagogue built.
 * 1911 - Ferrovia Massaua-Asmara begins operating; opens.
 * 1920
 * Teatro Asmara (theatre) opens.
 * Population: 14,711.
 * 1922 - Airport begins operating.
 * 1923 - Church of Our Lady of the Rosary built.
 * 1930s - New Governor's Palace built (now City Hall).
 * 1935 - Population: 16,000 (12,000 Africans + 4,000 Italians).
 * 1936 - Apartheid begins; city racially divided into nazionali (white) and indigeni (black) areas.
 * 1937
 * Asmara-Massawa Cableway begins operating.
 * Albergo CIAAO (hotel) built for the Compagnia Immobiliare Alberghi Africa Orientale.
 * Cinema Excelsior and Cinema Teatro Augustus open.
 * 1938
 * Great Mosque of Asmara, Cicero Stadium, and Fiat Tagliero Building constructed.
 * Cinema Impero opens.
 * 1939
 * Asmara Brewery in business.
 * Population: 84,000 (36,000 Africans + 48,000 Italians).
 * 1941
 * March. British occupy city.
 * Asmara Brewery FC (football club) formed.
 * 1945 - Red Sea FC (football club) formed.
 * 1951 - British occupation ends.
 * 1952 - City becomes part of Ethiopia per United Nations decision.
 * 1953 - United States military signals intelligence Kagnew Station in operation.
 * 1957 - (school) active.
 * 1958
 * Catholic College of the Santa Famiglia founded.
 * Denden Stadium opens.
 * 1959 - Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Asmara active.
 * 1962 - Population: 120,000.
 * 1964 - Population: 131,800.
 * 1968
 * January: Part of 1968 African Cup of Nations football contest held in Asmara.
 * University of Asmara active.
 * 1969 - Kidane Mehret Cathedral built.
 * 1974
 * Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army (Derg) in power.
 * 28 December: Massacre occurs during the Eritrean War of Independence.
 * 1975
 * February: Fighting, Massacre occurs.
 * July: Fighting occurs.
 * 1985 - Population: 284,748 (estimate).
 * 1990
 * Siege of city begins.
 * Population: 358,100 (estimate).
 * 1991
 * 24 May: Eritrean People's Liberation Front take city; Derg rule ends.
 *  newspaper begins publication.
 * 1993
 * 24 May: Asmara becomes capital of independent Eritrea.
 * Eri-TV begins broadcasting.
 * 1998 - 5 June: Airport bombed by Ethiopian forces during the Eritrean–Ethiopian War.

21st century

 * 2002 - Semere Russom becomes mayor of Asmara and administrator of the Central Region.
 * 2013 - 21 January: 2013 Eritrean Army mutiny occurs at Eri-TV building.
 * 2017 - Italian city centre designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 * 2018 - Population: 501,203 (estimate).
 * 2020 - Rocket attacks.