Antananarivo, its Malagasy name, means "City of a Thousand”, for the 1000 armed men stationed within its walls by King Andrianjaka in the seventeenth century. The French renamed it Tananarive at the time of colonization. For those who know it, it’s simply "Tana".
Whatever you call it, Antananarivo, Tananarive, or Tana, the capital of Madagascar is still the City of a Thousand: a thousand scents, a thousand views, a thousand ways to stride along its thousand lanes, a thousand stairs connecting the upper and lower cities...
Antananarivo dominates the country with its deforested landscapes and small villages composed of traditional adobe houses from on top of its sacred hills. The great Antananarivo extends over 18 hills and is situated at an altitude between 1200 and 1500 m. The city is divided between the "Lower City" that starts at the market of Analakely-covered pavilions facing the great post offfice-continues to the Soarano railway station, through the Avenue of Independence and the "Upper City'' which of course is on a hill.
Antananarivo is an exciting city to visit, with its museums, monuments and palaces, but it is also a city that is rich in animation. There are numerous shops and outdoor markets. Its steep cobbled streets lined with pretty houses with colourful wooden balconies, mean that every corner is a spectacle.
The community comprises 1.75 million inhabitants (with an increase of about 3% per year).
Antananarivo is by far the largest economic centre of the country: about 55% of GDP is produced here. The density of the road network and the scale of air traffic at Ivato International Airport make it the first communication node. Agriculture is the main activity in the areas around Antananarivo, especially for growing rice in irrigated farms, for vegetables and livestock (cattle, but especially sheep and pig and poultry). The main activities of the secondary and tertiary sector in Madagascar in particular the construction and public works sectors, food processing, textiles, wood industry and its products, chemical, mechanical and electrical industries, and printing and tourism are grouped in the capital. The creation in 1992 of the status of free enterprise whose products are intended for export, has encouraged the installation of foreign companies, primarily in the textile sector which today has become the most dynamic industry in Madagascar.
Anatirova (Palais de la Reine)
The Palais de la Reine is considered the symbol of Antananarivo. Before it burned in a fire that was certainly of criminal origin, this palace was home to a rich museum tracing the history of the rulers of Madagascar. Unfortunately, since the fire, it cannot be visited any more because the Eastern Palace is under reconstruction. However, reconstruction is scheduled to be completed in 2010...
The Palace of AMBOTSIROATRA,
It currently houses the Presidency in the Antaninarenina district in the centre. It is currently undergoing expansion and therefore can not be visited but we can admire its façade from the avenue it faces.
The Palais de Justice (AVARADROVA)
It erects its neoclassical silhouette in a place called AMBATODRAFANDRANA (the "stone of Rafandrana", named after the first three kings of Antananarivo). This monument built by Parret in 1881 replaced a stone on which the ancient kings made speeches and dispensed justice.
Its pediment, supported by Ionic columns, is decorated with a sculpted pattern with two crossed spears that symbolize royal justice.
The Palace of the Prime Minister (ANDAFIAVARATRA)
The massive structure of the ANDAFIAVARATRA palace which is used by the Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, is divided in RAVELOJAONA street. This imposing building of brick and stone, topped with a glass dome, was built in 1872 on plans by Britain's William POOL in the place of the magnificent two story wooden palace constructed by RAINIHARO. After 1895, the palace of ANDAFIAVARATRA became one after the next barracks, a court, a School of Fine Arts, Malagasy Applied Arts Workshops, the Office of the President of the Republic (1958-1972), then that of the Prime Minister (1972-1975) . It was destroyed by fire in 1975, and has been completely restored. It now houses a museum that exhibits what could be saved from the ROVA fire of the Reine.
The Place d'Andohalo
This is the oldest public square and was built by King ANDRIANJAKA.
Most of the rulers of IMERINA pronounced their "kabary" (or speech) during the royal investiture on the sacred stone, which is now lost.
The visit of traditional markets is a total change of scenery, there you can buy souvenirs. However, don't forget to negotiate your prices while of course remaining reasonable. You can choose between several markets in Antananarivo or in its immediate periphery.
The Isotry market, is traditional and good for purchasing baskets, clothing, mats and spices
The Pochard Market is located in the city centre, close to the Soarano station and is also a popular marketplace offering crafts and stones on certain days.
The traditional market of Andravoahangy, located near the Ankorondrano sector, is in the city, not far from the Pochard market and offers a wide selection of stones, solitaires, wood carvings, marquetry, embroidery and basket weaving.
The traditional market of La Digue, which is opened Sunday on the road to the Ivato airport, provides ebony masks, statues made of rosewood, the valiha (a Malagasy stringed instrument) ...
And let's not forget the "pavilions" in the city centre in Analakely, which are now classified monuments. Everything can be found there - except stones - and it's the great "bazaar" of Antananarivo's inhabitants, both Malagasy and expatriates; artisans of all kinds, present in the pavilions will also make all sorts of things to orders.
From Antananarivo to Toliara in the deep south, the national road 7, the RN7, is THE road in Madagascar. This artery brings life far from the capital with its 950 kilometres of asphalt in a country where it's usual to drive on dirt roads. Bush taxis, trucks, bicycles, bullock carts, pedestrians, all, use it to work, sell, trade, or find their families–whether it's for a few meters or 950 kilometres.
Ever since its creation by the French in 1972, the Malagasy have respected and cared for the RN7, which is an indispensable tool of daily life. While the landscapes succeed themselves, going from plateaus to rice paddies, desert steppes, barren mountains, the people adapt and change, from the Betsileo farmers, to the Vezo, the men of the sea.
The RN7 offers a fantastic perspective on Madagascar, from the exuberance of nature to the richness of human contact.
"Going down" the N7 takes you across numerous rice paddies to begin with and stops first in Antsirabe, an old colonial town and spa town with many rickshaws.
A little further you discover Fianarantsoa, capital of the Betsileo region, situated at 1106 meters in altitude, renowned for its vineyards. Here you can take the train to the east coast, to the town of Manakara. Fianarantsoa has a very dense city centre, and an upper city that is a veritable labyrinth, that can only be visited on foot for those who want to fully enjoy its charm.
It continues in the direction of Isalo and its National Park: it is advised to stop and admire the exceptional landscape of canyons, caves, streams, and pools ... The vegetation near sources of water is abundant, composed of pandanus trees, palms, ferns and tapias... The park also houses a dry and thorny forest.
Your journey will take you to Sakaraha, which was a once small farming town that, like several other villages in the area, has built its wealth on the sapphire. This is where the climate changes and travellers sees the first baobabs and burial tombs...
The paved road ends when it arrives in Toliara; the journey continues to Ifaty Anakao or Nosy Ve to be able to enjoy the sea.
432 km RANOMAFANA. national park with a beautiful tropical rainforest, two different ecosystems and 26 species of mammals.
