The Rova of Antananarivo, Antananarivo

The Rova of Antananarivo, Antananarivo (must see)

The Rova of Antananarivo is a royal palace complex in Madagascar that served as the home of the sovereigns of the Kingdom of Imerina in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the rulers of the Kingdom of Madagascar in the 19th century.

Located in the central highland city of Antananarivo, the Rova occupies the highest point on Analamanga, formerly the highest of Antananarivo's many hills. Merina king Andrianjaka, who ruled Imerina from around 1610 until 1630, is believed to have captured Analamanga from a Vazimba king around 1610 or 1625 and erected the site's first fortified royal structure. Over time, the number of buildings within the site varied. Andrianjaka founded the Rova with three buildings and a dedicated tomb site in the early 17th century.

Manjakamiadana was built in two stages. The original palace, built between 1839 and 1840 on the orders of Ranavalona I, was built entirely in wood by Jean Laborde. On the night of 6 November 1995, a fire broke out in the Rova compound, destroying or severely damaging all of its buildings. The original exterior of Manjakamiadana comprised over 70,000 granite stones, of which approximately 20,000 had become cracked during the fire and needed replacement.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Antananarivo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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The Rova of Antananarivo on Map

Sight Name: The Rova of Antananarivo
Sight Location: Antananarivo, Madagascar (See walking tours in Antananarivo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Create Your Own Walk in Antananarivo

Create Your Own Walk in Antananarivo

Creating your own self-guided walk in Antananarivo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Antananarivo Introduction Walking Tour

Antananarivo Introduction Walking Tour

Antananarivo, also called Tana, is the most attractive and visited city in Madagascar. The fact that there are unusual places to hold one's interest makes it a unique place for anyone's vacation. The city's geographical location and culture make for a collection of beautiful things to see. Follow this orientation walk to discover the most attractive sights of Antananarivo!

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.8 Km or 3.6 Miles
Antananarivo Shopping Tour

Antananarivo Shopping Tour

Shopping in Antananarivo is lots of fun, and you can choose the most eye-catching products that are sold. There are many shops and markets where merchants come from all over the country to sell their goods. You can also meet people selling interesting, bizarre, handmade goods on the roads. Take this tour guide to enjoy the most popular shopping places in Antananarivo.

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles