MoroniCapital
Comoros · Country profile
Moroni is the small, fragrant capital of the Comoros, the green port city of the western Indian Ocean that climbs the steep volcanic slopes of the island of the Grande Comore, facing the deep blue sea at the foot of the great active volcano of the Karthala. The capital of the union of the islands since the mid twentieth century, when the colonial administration chose the port above the older settlements, it is a compact, steep town of the white minarets, the coral-stone old houses, the markets and the narrow lanes that run down from the heights to the harbour, framed by the extraordinary green and black of the volcanic island. The old town of the centre, the single great white mosque of the harbour, the markets of the city and the sea walls anchor the essential visits, while the crater ridge of the volcano towers over the whole of the little capital. Green, steep and beautifully secluded, Moroni is the aromatic heart of the fragrant islands of the moon.
About Moroni
Moroni is the capital of Comoros. The city's documented population is around 75,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Comorian Franc (KMF) and Comorian, Arabic and French are spoken; the dialling code is +269.
The Mosque of the Harbour and the Lanes of the Old Town
Moroni is a compact, steep capital where the essential circuit moves between the old town of the Medina, the great mosque of the harbour and the markets of the city, with the sea walls and the viewpoints of the heights framing the days. The old quarter with its coral houses and its carved doors, the white mosque with its leaning minaret and the busy markets of the town, from the morning fish and the produce of the port to the spice stalls of the centre, anchor the classic visits, while the black sand beaches and the diving of the surrounding coast and the heights of the great volcano fill the excursions beyond the town. The whole little city breathes the unhurried rhythm of the Indian Ocean islands, its air carrying the ylang-ylang of the perfumed countryside.
The Market of the Morning and the Scents of the Ylang-Ylang
The climate of the capital is the hot, humid tropical of the western Indian Ocean, with the heavy rains of the wet season and the cyclones of the southern summer, and the drier, tempered winter months the pleasant season of the year. The franc of the islands is the currency, with the Shikomoro, the Arabic and the French the languages of the town. The old town, the mosque and the market make the core circuit, and the trails and the beaches of the island lie beyond the short climbs of the capital. Light cotton clothing, insect protection and comfortable shoes for the steep lanes complete the simple preparation for the island capital.
The Crater of the Volcano and the Beaches of the Black Sand
The great white mosque of the capital, the single monumental mosque of the Anjouan style that stands on the waterfront of the city with its leaning, sky-piercing minaret, is the religious symbol of the islands and the most photographed monument of the town, while the old quarter behind it, the medina of the coral houses with their worn carved doors of the Swahili tradition, preserves the historic face of the seaport. The market of the capital, the bustling morning market of the town hall square, piles the catch of the fishing boats, the produce of the volcanic slopes and the ylang-ylang, the vanilla and the spices of the fragrant islands, while the stalls of the coast sell the woven palm of the artisans. The sea walls and the moat of the old port, the lanes that climb the green ravines of the town and the crater crest of the great volcano that looms over the city, complete the fragrant, secluded circuit of the little capital of the moon islands.
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- Country
- Comoros
- Population
- 75,000
- Capital
- Moroni
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Comorian Franc (KMF)
- Languages
- Comorian, Arabic, French
- Calling code
- +269
- Country code
- KM
Frequently asked questions
Is Moroni the capital of Comoros?
Yes — Moroni is the capital of Comoros.
What currency do I need in Moroni?
The local currency is the Comorian Franc (KMF). Languages spoken in Comoros include Comorian, Arabic and French.
What is the dialling code for Comoros?
The international dialling code for Comoros is +269.
Flying out of Moroni? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.