Antananarivo
The capital city
Your first impression of Madagascar will be of Antananarivo (short, Tana), the capital. Tana, situated in the central highlands, had been the headquarter of the last Malagasy kingdom until the French colonised the island in 1896.
The Rova,
residence of the last queen, and one of the numerous attractions of the
city, mysteriously caught fire in 1985. It is now being rebuilt to old
fame.
Antananarivo reminds of a typical southern french town.
The weekly
market "Zoma" (Friday) had to be dissolved as it increasingly hindered
traffic in the city. The highly popular handicrafts,
which make wonderful souvenirs, are now scattered around
town.
When the jacaranda trees blossom in October, all Antananarivo is violet.