Madagascar City: Antananarivo

Antananarivo ("City of thousands of warriors"), or as it is often called here – Tana, the largest and colorful city of the island.

The city is located at altitudes from 1240 to 1470 m in the valley between the two hills, and the low houses are raised by their slopes, forming a real labyrinth from the alleys, arches, terraces, balconies and stairs. The main attraction of the capital is a magnificent monumental ensemble of Palace Rus Ambuchimang: "Double Palace" Mandzakamaciadan (XVII in.), Mahicylafandzaka, Tranavalun, Manmampisoa (1866.) and tomb of Madagascar monarchs. The presidential palace and a complex of ministerial buildings, the Palace of the Prime Minister, the National Library Buildings, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Anusi quarter, "Channel area" Antukhumadier (there are also a mosque and a Catholic church), Municipal Theater Outli on Rococcarian Street, Mahamaasina Stadium, Tsimbazaz Park with a luxurious botanical garden, museums of archeology and paleontology, colorful garden of Besareti in the Quarter Andrahuhang, Mazurev-Farm, Fiadaman, Lake Anusi with a monument to the participants of the First World War and Crook-Farm near Iwat Airport – the best crocodile farm in Madagascar.

The city has a huge number of outlets selling all imaginable types of goods, but the most popular, undoubtedly, enjoys the famous zoom market ("Friday") On Independence Avenue – one of the world’s largest in the world in the open sky. The entire shopping district of the Analakels, the flower market on Avenue June 26, the Gallery Yerden, the huge market of craft products in the quarter of Andruuangi (Andra-Nauhangi) and the National Center of Malagasy Art Fields.

Certainly worth visiting the representation of the people’s theater "Hira Gasi". This is a unique, purely Malagasy phenomenon – amateur folk troupes are collected in any place (People’s Theater, Stadium, Market and T. D.) and compete in the art of poetry, music, dance and elegance of costumes. Spectator on such ideas the most democratic – peasants, unemployed, workers, poets. Therefore, these amazing performances continue all day to the worst pleasure of others.

The neighborhood of the capital, the ancient land of the extension is quite colorful – huge rice fields are replaced by extensive deserted expanses of the untreated land in the north, the hills are divided by deep gorges, and the sacred lakes are framed by groves of fruit trees. This is a resident, historical, cultural and economic center of the country. Here are interesting ruins of the castle of the king of the Raaluba (XVI in.) on the Hill of Ambukhudrabie, Fortress and Palace (XVIII in.) King Andrianampinemerin on the Hill of Ambuchiman, Zebu market in Mandrausa, the thermal resort of the Azurrais (I wonder what this is the most "cold" The country of the country, which is also known by the art of their embroidery – the local house of art crafts is supplied by embroidery canvas for export), Volcanic lakes Andraikiba and Ttrimet, Waterfalls Antafufu and Volcanic Lake Tatamarina near Phanta, Ambushitra – recognized center "marquetry", Picturesque cottage district around artificial lake Mantasua, Porina Reserve, as well as beautiful lakes of Itasi and Kavitach.

The southeast of the capital is a picturesque mountain range of L’Ancaratra, which is a beautiful area for outdoor activities and hiking tourism. In Muramanga, halfway between the capital and the east coast, there is an extremely original museum of the National Gendarmerie (military history). Near the Anzurra is one of Madagascar’s miracles – a dead lake, which is a small (about 50 per 100 m) reservoir with almost black water, squeezed between granite rocks. The depth of the crystal-pure lake is about 400 m, but there is no longer any living nature in it, and no one could twist it.

Reviews and studies of trips

Madagascar. Yesterday and today

We managed to buy several old magazines on the bookinistic market in Antananariva. Comparison of vintage photos with modern seemed to us interesting. Read more →

albegoyec | October 2012

Journey to Madagascar

Many people in different countries of the world, before the appearance of the Madagascar cartoon, did not even know about the existence of the island with a similar name. After the cartoon yield, the tourist flow in Madagascar has increased significantly. Visa began to cost 25, but 118 dollars, you can get it both in the homeland and at the airport of the capital Madagascar Antananarivo. (In both cases, it is typical for the third world countries, the passport of the tourist is pierced by a paper clip, attaching receipt of payment.) The director who shot the cartoon Madagascar regularly visits these edges to relax, he is met as a Messiah or as Pope, transported on the island at once on two helicopters. Read more →