Former Imperial Palace, Massawa

At Former Imperial Palace, see a once-grandiose building now in decay, destroyed in 1990 during the Ethiopian-Eritrean war. Initially built as the private residence of Werner Munzinger, a Swiss man who explored Africa, and later serving as the winter residence of Emperor Haile Selassie during the first half of the 20th century, the building has long been an important political and cultural site. Since it’s now mostly in ruins, you can see the shadow of its past glory, manifesting itself through the imposing pillars, terraces, and the combination of blue and white marble tiles. For Former Imperial Palace and beyond, use our Massawa trip planner to get the most from your Massawa vacation.