Iconi

Iconi lies just south of Moroni and was one of the oldest sultanate capitals on Grande Comore, with a medina of narrow lanes, carved doors and coral-stone houses, an old Friday mosque and a citadel above. The cliff behind the town carries a story of women who threw themselves from it rather than be taken by Malagasy raiders, which islanders still tell. The town is quieter than the capital next door. The road south from Moroni takes only a few minutes, which makes Iconi the easiest of the old towns to reach.

What's there

• The old medina - narrow lanes of coral-stone houses and carved doors.
• The Friday mosque - the historic mosque at the centre of the town.
• The citadel - the fortification standing above the settlement.
• The cliff - the rock face the raid story is attached to.

When to go

May to October is the drier and cooler season. The rains run November to April. Fridays change the rhythm of the town around prayers.

Practical notes

Many buildings are in poor repair. Non-Muslims should not expect access to the mosque interior.

Nearby

Moroni is north, and Singani is south.

Key facts