The old railway station on Taulud Island was the terminus of the remarkable Italian-built railway that climbed the escarpment from the Red Sea coast to Asmara. The station building itself is a handsome example of Italian colonial architecture, with arched openings and a loggia facing the platform. Abandoned rolling stock — including original Italian steam locomotives — sits in various states of preservation nearby.
The railway journey from Massawa to Asmara was one of the great train trips in Africa, winding through dramatic highland scenery. The Eritrean government has been working to restore sections of the line. Even if you cannot take the train, the station is worth visiting as a monument to the Italian colonial-era infrastructure that still shapes Eritrea.