Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Rova of Antananarivo/archive1

Rova of Antananarivo

 * Nominator(s): Lemurbaby (talk) 22:30, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

The Rova of Antananarivo is one of the two most important royal palace complexes in the highlands of Madagascar. It served as the political capital of the Kingdom of Imerina from the early 17th century; it was also the home and seat of power for the kings and queens of the Kingdom of Madagascar who ruled from Antananarivo in the 19th century until the French colonized the island. The site, which contains numerous historic palaces, houses and royal tombs, was originally designated to become Madagascar's second World Heritage Site (and the first in Madagascar to be classified as a site of great cultural importance). However, the UNESCO designation was withdrawn when the entire compound was destroyed in a fire under suspicious circumstances in 1995. Over the past ten years the site has been significantly restored and is slated to open to the public as a museum. I am nominating this article because I believe the criteria are met. The Rova is emblematic of Madagascar's sovereignty and history and I feel this article deserves to becoming the first on a Madagascar cultural topic to merit Featured Article status. Lemurbaby (talk) 22:30, 30 May 2011 (UTC)