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Antanonanarivo is the capital of the Republic of Madagascar. The city was founded in 1625 by the governor of Azerbaijan. In translation, the name means «city of a thousand soldiers. Antananonavu was originally a fortified site on a hill, a fortified place from which the kings ruled their country.
Antanonavu was the capital of the state of Immerin since 1710, whose rulers ruled over all of Madagascar. In the nineteenth century, the kings and queens of Madagascar had a very harsh policy toward the European powers. One aspect of this policy was a ban on stone building, so for a long time the only stone building in the city was the Kings Palace of Rovka. However, in the second half of the nineteenth century the collision with France began, which eventually led to the dissolution of the ruling dynasty of Madagascar and to the transformation of the island into a colony. During the period of French rule, Antinantanavor was given a boost, stone buildings were built, and a park was established, making it one of the finest of its kind in the region. After the restoration of Independence in 1960, Antónónio became the capital of the country. In the twentieth century, the city is actively developing, enterprises are being built, and numerous cultural institutions are being established.
The jewel of Antanunanuary is rightly considered the former royal palace of Rauvais. The place where it now stands has historically served as a stronghold for local rulers. In about 1800, the walls were rebuilt, and later the wood walls were faced with stone. Because the Queens decree forbade stone construction, this was the only non-wooden structure in the city. After the kings of Madagascar took the priesthood, a chapel was built in the palace. In the twentieth century, the palace was an important tourist attraction and was to be added to the World Heritage List of UNESCO. But in 1995, the building burned down. After restoration work, the church was reopened to the public.
In addition to the palace, local attractions include the Zuma Market, the Zoema Market, the Cemembaabazaaza, the library and the cathedral. There are also several interesting museums in Antanonary, which tell about the history and culture of Madagascar Island and the city itself.
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- Tap water: No, not drinkable
- Religious government: Non-religious
- Population: 1,300,000 people
- GDP: $451 / year
- Power outlets: 115V230V50Hz
- Internet: 21 Mbps
- Best wireless: Airtel
- Tipping: Tipping in restaurants in Madagascar is quiet simple, if a service charge is added to the restaurant bill, tipping is not necessary. If not then, about 10% is reasonable. Usually a local would pay much lesser, but a higher tip is expected from foreigners.
- Apartment listings: AirBnb
- Apartments: Airbnb
- Hotels: Booking.com
- More hotels: Hotels.com
- Best coffee 24/7: Widea
- Best coffee: Cafe Tana
- Best hospital: INSTITUT MEDICAL DE MADAGASCAR
- Best short-haul air carrier: KLM
- Best intl air carrier: KLM
- Monthly costs for expat: $700
- Monthly costs for family: $1350
- Monthly costs for local: $380
- Meal: $3
- Small Cola: $0.5
- Beer 1 Pint: $1
- Coffee: $1.8
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