Royal Hill of Ambohimanga

An Historic UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ambohimanga Palace sits on one of 12 hills a short distance outside the city center. After we pick you up from your hotel, we travel to this area venerated as the birthplace of the Merina Kengdom. On top of the hill is the Palace, a large walled structure where King Adnrianampoinemerina lived from 1788 to 1810. The King's fame rests on his efforts to re-unite the Merina culture. Off and on over many years this Palace was closed to visitors, in fact, at one period, it was specifically closed to foreigners and pigs. Now you can visit the entire living quarters of the Merina royalty. Your guide will uncover such delights as the ancient queen's bathing pools, the unique points of architecture, and gardens of endemic and medicinal plants. It boasts a remarkable panoramic of the city of Antananarivo. After our visit, on our way back to the hotel, if there is time, we may stop at a local market with Madagascar-made products.