Antananarivo

Popularly known as Tana, it is the capital and gateway to Madagascar. Located in the centre of the country, the city is a place of contrasts, where stone paths and historic buildings share space with rice fields and green hills, and whose eastern, western and African influences are reflected in its architecture and culture. It is a chaotic city with more than 2 million inhabitants, but with a unique charm. In 1610, King Adrianjaka managed to conquer the Analamanga hill (where the Queen's Palace is located) by expelling the Vazimba tribe, one of the first tribes on the island. To defend himself from possible reprisals, the King created an army of 1,000 soldiers, thus giving the city the name Antananarivo, "the city of a thousand warriors" in Malagasy. The capital of Madagascar has nothing exotic about it, but it is the only city in the country where the buildings, steles and other monuments that represent the history of Madagascar are concentrated. However, the surrounding areas of Antananarivo really offer some spectacular sights to behold.