{"id":3648,"date":"2014-06-25T14:40:25","date_gmt":"2014-06-25T14:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/afrifacto.com\/madagascar\/?page_id=3648"},"modified":"2014-07-18T13:22:57","modified_gmt":"2014-07-18T13:22:57","slug":"antananarivo-city","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/afrifacto.com\/madagascar\/antananarivo-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Antananarivo City"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"madagascar\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Location<\/strong><\/p>\n

Antananarivo is the capital and largest city in Madagascar. It is also known by its French colonial shorthand form Tana. The larger urban area surrounding the city known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra is the capital of Analamanga Region. The name roughly translates to “City of the Thousand”<\/p>\n

History of the City<\/strong><\/p>\n

Antananarivo is situated approximately 1,280\u00a0m (4,199\u00a0ft) above sea level in the central highlands region of the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, at 18.55′ latitude south and 47.32′ longitude<\/p>\n

Antananarivo was already a major city before the colonial era. After expelling the Vazimba who inhabited a town at the peak of Analamanga hill, Andrianjaka constructed a rova there that became the site of the royal palaces and the burial place of Merina royalty.<\/p>\n

During this 77 year period, the eastern district’s capital at Ambohimanga rose in prominence. The last king of Ambohimanga, Andrianampoinimerina successfully conquered Antananarivo in 1793 and reunited the provinces of Imerina putting an end to nearly eight decades of civil war.<\/p>\n

Population<\/strong><\/p>\n

Antananarivo City covers an area of 88\u00a0km2<\/sup> with an estimated population of over 2 million people.<\/p>\n

Mayors of Antananarivo City<\/strong><\/p>\n

1956\u20131959: Stanislas Rakotonirina<\/p>\n

1959\u20131977: Richard Andriamanjato<\/p>\n

19??\u20131991: Guy Razanamasy<\/p>\n

1994\u20131999: Guy Razanamasy<\/p>\n

1999\u20132002: Marc Ravalomanana<\/p>\n

2003\u20132007: Patrick Ramiaramanana<\/p>\n

2007\u20132009: Andry Rajoelina<\/p>\n

2009: Guy Randrianarisoa<\/p>\n

2009: Michele Ratsivalaka<\/p>\n

2009\u20132013: Edgard Razafindravahy<\/p>\n

2013: to date Olga Rasamimanana<\/p>\n

Transport system<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Antananarivo has various means of transport serving the city which include; air transport with international airport, a new shuttle service connecting Ivato and Antananarivo, minibuses and buses<\/p>\n

Attractions in Antananarivo<\/strong><\/p>\n

The following are major tourist attractions of Antananarivo City<\/p>\n