Mamoudzou, the economic capital of Mayotte, nestled between mountains and the coast, is located on the island of Grande-Terre opposite the island of Petite-Terre in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Surrounded by mountainous relief, the municipality is made up of seven villages. It used to be only a small city before becoming the island’s capital in 1977, when administrative buildings were built. On the sea front, 200 metres from the jetty for Petite-Terre, Mamoudzou’s covered market are a great way to discover this lively and authentic town: there are women selling exotic fruits and vegetables, stalls selling fish from off the coast or the lagoon, spices (especially vanilla), and also textiles (“lambas”) and local crafts.