The Great Mosque of Asmara, Al Khulafa Al Rashiudin, is one of three buildings that anchor the city's central axis: the Catholic cathedral, the Coptic Enda Mariam, and this mosque, all within a kilometre of each other. Completed in 1937, it combines Italian Rationalist massing with classical Islamic detailing: a tall central minaret, a colonnaded courtyard, and a facade clad in pale travertine and marble.
Non-Muslims can visit outside prayer times and are generally welcomed at the courtyard. Dress modestly and remove your shoes if entering the prayer hall. The square in front fills with worshippers on Fridays; the busy street market spills into the surrounding alleys on most other days.