South of Nuku’alofa, between Tofoa and Pe’a, you’ll pass the private royal residences of the Princess, adorned with white tigers and cannons, and the King, an austere European-style hilltop palace opposite (why are the Princess’s cannons pointing at the King?). After the 2015 coronation, it was unclear which royals would end up living in which houses (ask a passer-by!). No public access: views from the street only.
Royal Residences
Tongatapu
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Nearby Tongatapu attractions
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Mala’ekula, the large parklike area opposite the basilica, has been the resting place of the royals since 1893. The statue-studded white concrete tomb…
2. Basilica of St Anthony of Padua
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Nuku'alofa's most distinctive structure is the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua, opposite the Royal Tombs. It has a beautiful interior of stained glass,…
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Encircled by expansive lawns and casuarina trees, the white weatherboard Victorian-style Royal Palace, erected in 1867, is the pinnacle of Tongan grandeur…
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