Even if you stay for a couple of days in the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo, we suggest you visit some amazing historical places. Locals refer to Antananarivo as “Tana.” This city boasts some historic buildings and monuments. Here we look at the 10 most popular architectural attractions of Antananarivo.
Rova Antananarivo
&nbsp;Rova Antananarivo – the palace, located on the top of the hill, is one of the symbols of the kingdom of Imerina. Inside the royal aviary there is a church and various palaces, including the Queen’s Palace. After a fire in 1995, Rova Palace was rebuilt and still remains a place worth visiting to enjoy breathtaking views of the entire city from above.
Ambatondrafandran Court
This is the royal court of Queen Ranavalon II, commissioned in 1881. Built without walls by James Parré, it was inspired by the Greek Ionic 16-column architecture style.
Palace of the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister’s Palace was built in 1872 by the English architect William Poole and became the replacement of a wooden building, burned to the ground, but later restored in 1976. Currently, there is an exhibition of royal attributes and personal items from the Royal Palace of Rowe Antananarivo, the building of which also burned down.
Andohalo Place
Andohalo Place was the home of the first Zoma market (Friday market). Prior to his inauguration, all official monarchical ceremonies were held in Andohalo. On October 14, 1958, local residents of Malgachi proclaimed themselves the Republic of Malagasy.
Upper city
The upper city is located on a hillside from Farahawhitra to the Royal Palace and is known for its diverse architecture, which combines British and French styles. Carved balconies and red brick houses decorate the slope of the hill with their originality and make it bright and colorful. Also from this place is just an incredibly breathtaking view from the top of the hill.
Anglican Cathedral
An Anglican group of missionaries became the owner of the Ambohimanoro area at the end of the 19th century. The cathedral was built in 1889 under the supervision of the architect Alfred Anker (Norway) and engineer William White (Great Britain). The church was built in the Gothic style.
Andohalo International Church
It was a wooden building until 1892, but later Malagasy architects decided to restore it from red brick. When General Gallieni became governor of the colonial administration in Madagascar in 1897, he became the home of the post office until 1903.
Roman Catholic Cathedral Andohalo
The cathedral was originally a wooden church, but in 1890 it was restored and the building became stone. The cathedral was executed by father Alfons Tykes. When Pope Jean-Paul II arrived in Madagascar in 1989, the church was among the places he visited.
Lutheran Church of Ambatovinaki
Ambatovinaki was the first Lutheran church founded in Antananarivo in 1871. Outside the church, there are several graves of Norwegian missionaries who died in the early years of their stay in Madagascar. It offers breathtaking views of the city.
Ambatonakanga Church
At this site, a wooden building was built by architects James Cameron and William Poole. He received his first office in 1831. The building that stands here now was built in 1864 by James Seabry. This church is a symbol of the first use of stones in its architecture and is registered as an object of national heritage.
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Antananarivo city tour

Mahajanga is the largest trading port city on the west coast of Madagascar and the center of the country&rsquo;s trade with East Africa. Being one of the first points of contact between mainland Africa and Madagascar, it has a rich history and a wonderful combination of culture painted by merchants and merchants. Located along the Bombotek River Delta, there is much to see outside the city, and most vacationers head north to explore the area&rsquo;s natural attractions from one of several exclusive resorts along the coast. This region is best known for its African baobabs (introduced species), one of which plays an important role as an island of movement!
Features Visit Circus Rouge: About 12 km north of Mahajanga, there is an impressive natural rock formation &ndash; an eroded sandstone canyon with stone peaks towering like church spiers. Visitors can go down to the bottom of the valley where the river flows to the sea. It is best to visit it in the late afternoon, when the formations seem to glow in a soft warm light.
Take a ferry to Katepsa and Antrem Nature Reserve: Across the bay from Mahajanga is the small fishing village of Katsepi, and beyond it is the Antrema Nature Reserve, a magnificent combination of mangrove forests and lakes. A ferry from Mahazanga takes 45 minutes each way, and a walk through a small fishing village and a hike along one of the short park trails is a great way to spend the day.
Visit to Ankarafantsik National Park: This national park, located a three-hour drive from Mahajanga, is a pleasure for tourists. It is suitable for tourists with well-marked and well-groomed trails, and boat excursions around Lake Ravelobe are also offered. Rare Madagascan radiated turtles, sifaki, mongoose lemurs and western woolly lemurs live here, and this is the only place in the world where you can see the golden brown mongoose lemur.
Explore the city: Mahajanga is well known for its nightlife, and the city is buzzing after sunset. During the day, travelers who want to get acquainted with the history of Mahazanga can take a walk (about 2.5 hours) by going through 18 numbered signs that connect the main attractions of the city. Cards can be obtained from us.
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Mahajanga city tour

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Mahajanga city tour

Antananarivo city tour