Antsirabe (Antsirabe, "Land of Great Salt"), located 170 km south of Tana on a hilly elevation, the famous industrial and agricultural center of Madagascar. It is noteworthy for its mild healing climate during the spring period, colorful colorful markets, good hotels and interesting excursions. Residents of Antsirabe are famous for their ability to process precious stones. Going to numerous workshops, you can not only watch how the jewelers work on cutting stones, but also buy something for memory.

A local curative microclimate that is distinguished by fresh air and cool temperatures (and at night it can also freeze ), in the 1800s attracted the attention of missionaries from Norway, who founded the first shelter here. Since then, a lot of water has flowed, and today Antsirabe, updated by the French, has become a popular spa resort in Madagascar.

How to get to Antsirabe

There are three bus stations operating in the city - from the north you take a shuttle bus to Antananarivo 4 hours, 7000 MGF) and to the north of the country, from the south to Ambositru (2 hours, 5000 MGF), Fianarantsoa (on the way 5 hours, cost 10,000 MGF), Miandrivazo (Miandrivazo, 5 hours, 10,000 MGF ) and Morondava (15 hours en route and 15,000 MGF). Buses to the nearest villages run from the western station.

Shopping and shopping

Antsirabe is one of the rare towns where you can find traditional for Madagascar art. In the city there are many workshops with hand-crafted souvenirs. The best way to see them all is to take a "tuk-tuk tour" through the galleries and shops of Antsirabe, cost from 400 MGF.