Ivory Coast — Attractions
Saint Paul's Cathedral
Designed by Italian architect Aldo Spirito and covering a massive 14 625 square feet (4500m square) this cathedral is Africa's second largest church building and can seat more than 3500 people. Pope John Paul II inaugurated the cathedral in August 1985. The tower itself is said to be a figure of St Paul, while the buildings behind the tower represent his robes. The interior of the cathedral includes a number of beautiful stained-glass tableaux. The building also offers spectacular views of the city.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Hotel Ivoire
Once the picture of innovation and modernity for Abidjan, the Hotel Ivoire is now an empty shell of what was. The hotel complex used to include more than ten tennis courts, a casino, grocery store, curio stalls, a bowling alley, nightclubs, sauna, restaurants and swimming pools. However, Hotel Ivoire as it stands today is testament to the ruins of civil instability in the country. The swimming pools are empty and have weeds growing where the water used to be, restaurants are closed and very few guests choose to stay in this eerie sixties-decorated hotel.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Parc du Banco
Situated at the northwestern edge of the city, Parc du Banco offers tourists a glimpse of the country's rainforests. The park has a number of walking paths and trails as well as a lake and superb examples of rainforest trees. There are still some examples of wildlife in the park but they are shy and difficult to spot. Visitors to the park are advised to exercise caution as it has been known as a hide-out for criminals in the past. While en route to the park keep an eye out for the continent's largest outdoor laundry, just before the entrance to Parc du Banco.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro is the official capital of Ivory Coast, however this seems to be only by name. The city is a five hour drive from Abidjan and seems to be one of Africa's strangest capital cities. Paved streets and street lamps were built in preparation for the buzzing metropolis Yamoussoukro was supposed to be, however this metropolis never came to exist and so now streets exist with little to nothing between them. The city's main attraction is the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro (Cathedrale Notre Dame de la Paix or Basilica Notre Dame), larger than St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Yamoussoukro's basilica is the largest Christian church in the world. It was modeled after the Vatican's St. Peter's, and even though the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace seats slightly less people than St. Peter's it has a taller dome and a larger surface area. The stained glass windows are also exceptionally beautiful. The Basilica Notre Dame was consecrated by Pope John Paul II.
Man
Man is a small town situated to the west of the central region of Ivory Coast. The town is known as the best area to buy the famous Yacouba masks as well as traditional fabrics. Mount Tonikoui towers over the town at 4000 feet (1220m). There are also a number of rivers and waterfalls, such as La Cascade which is set in a bamboo forest, close to the town.
Saint Paul's Cathedral
Designed by Italian architect Aldo Spirito and covering a massive 14 625 square feet (4500m square) this cathedral is Africa's second largest church building and can seat more than 3500 people. Pope John Paul II inaugurated the cathedral in August 1985. The tower itself is said to be a figure of St Paul, while the buildings behind the tower represent his robes. The interior of the cathedral includes a number of beautiful stained-glass tableaux. The building also offers spectacular views of the city.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Hotel Ivoire
Once the picture of innovation and modernity for Abidjan, the Hotel Ivoire is now an empty shell of what was. The hotel complex used to include more than ten tennis courts, a casino, grocery store, curio stalls, a bowling alley, nightclubs, sauna, restaurants and swimming pools. However, Hotel Ivoire as it stands today is testament to the ruins of civil instability in the country. The swimming pools are empty and have weeds growing where the water used to be, restaurants are closed and very few guests choose to stay in this eerie sixties-decorated hotel.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Parc du Banco
Situated at the northwestern edge of the city, Parc du Banco offers tourists a glimpse of the country's rainforests. The park has a number of walking paths and trails as well as a lake and superb examples of rainforest trees. There are still some examples of wildlife in the park but they are shy and difficult to spot. Visitors to the park are advised to exercise caution as it has been known as a hide-out for criminals in the past. While en route to the park keep an eye out for the continent's largest outdoor laundry, just before the entrance to Parc du Banco.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro is the official capital of Ivory Coast, however this seems to be only by name. The city is a five hour drive from Abidjan and seems to be one of Africa's strangest capital cities. Paved streets and street lamps were built in preparation for the buzzing metropolis Yamoussoukro was supposed to be, however this metropolis never came to exist and so now streets exist with little to nothing between them. The city's main attraction is the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro (Cathedrale Notre Dame de la Paix or Basilica Notre Dame), larger than St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Yamoussoukro's basilica is the largest Christian church in the world. It was modeled after the Vatican's St. Peter's, and even though the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace seats slightly less people than St. Peter's it has a taller dome and a larger surface area. The stained glass windows are also exceptionally beautiful. The Basilica Notre Dame was consecrated by Pope John Paul II.
Man
Man is a small town situated to the west of the central region of Ivory Coast. The town is known as the best area to buy the famous Yacouba masks as well as traditional fabrics. Mount Tonikoui towers over the town at 4000 feet (1220m). There are also a number of rivers and waterfalls, such as La Cascade which is set in a bamboo forest, close to the town.
Saint Paul's Cathedral
Designed by Italian architect Aldo Spirito and covering a massive 14 625 square feet (4500m square) this cathedral is Africa's second largest church building and can seat more than 3500 people. Pope John Paul II inaugurated the cathedral in August 1985. The tower itself is said to be a figure of St Paul, while the buildings behind the tower represent his robes. The interior of the cathedral includes a number of beautiful stained-glass tableaux. The building also offers spectacular views of the city.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Hotel Ivoire
Once the picture of innovation and modernity for Abidjan, the Hotel Ivoire is now an empty shell of what was. The hotel complex used to include more than ten tennis courts, a casino, grocery store, curio stalls, a bowling alley, nightclubs, sauna, restaurants and swimming pools. However, Hotel Ivoire as it stands today is testament to the ruins of civil instability in the country. The swimming pools are empty and have weeds growing where the water used to be, restaurants are closed and very few guests choose to stay in this eerie sixties-decorated hotel.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Parc du Banco
Situated at the northwestern edge of the city, Parc du Banco offers tourists a glimpse of the country's rainforests. The park has a number of walking paths and trails as well as a lake and superb examples of rainforest trees. There are still some examples of wildlife in the park but they are shy and difficult to spot. Visitors to the park are advised to exercise caution as it has been known as a hide-out for criminals in the past. While en route to the park keep an eye out for the continent's largest outdoor laundry, just before the entrance to Parc du Banco.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro is the official capital of Ivory Coast, however this seems to be only by name. The city is a five hour drive from Abidjan and seems to be one of Africa's strangest capital cities. Paved streets and street lamps were built in preparation for the buzzing metropolis Yamoussoukro was supposed to be, however this metropolis never came to exist and so now streets exist with little to nothing between them. The city's main attraction is the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro (Cathedrale Notre Dame de la Paix or Basilica Notre Dame), larger than St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Yamoussoukro's basilica is the largest Christian church in the world. It was modeled after the Vatican's St. Peter's, and even though the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace seats slightly less people than St. Peter's it has a taller dome and a larger surface area. The stained glass windows are also exceptionally beautiful. The Basilica Notre Dame was consecrated by Pope John Paul II.
Man
Man is a small town situated to the west of the central region of Ivory Coast. The town is known as the best area to buy the famous Yacouba masks as well as traditional fabrics. Mount Tonikoui towers over the town at 4000 feet (1220m). There are also a number of rivers and waterfalls, such as La Cascade which is set in a bamboo forest, close to the town.
Saint Paul's Cathedral
Designed by Italian architect Aldo Spirito and covering a massive 14 625 square feet (4500m square) this cathedral is Africa's second largest church building and can seat more than 3500 people. Pope John Paul II inaugurated the cathedral in August 1985. The tower itself is said to be a figure of St Paul, while the buildings behind the tower represent his robes. The interior of the cathedral includes a number of beautiful stained-glass tableaux. The building also offers spectacular views of the city.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Hotel Ivoire
Once the picture of innovation and modernity for Abidjan, the Hotel Ivoire is now an empty shell of what was. The hotel complex used to include more than ten tennis courts, a casino, grocery store, curio stalls, a bowling alley, nightclubs, sauna, restaurants and swimming pools. However, Hotel Ivoire as it stands today is testament to the ruins of civil instability in the country. The swimming pools are empty and have weeds growing where the water used to be, restaurants are closed and very few guests choose to stay in this eerie sixties-decorated hotel.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Parc du Banco
Situated at the northwestern edge of the city, Parc du Banco offers tourists a glimpse of the country's rainforests. The park has a number of walking paths and trails as well as a lake and superb examples of rainforest trees. There are still some examples of wildlife in the park but they are shy and difficult to spot. Visitors to the park are advised to exercise caution as it has been known as a hide-out for criminals in the past. While en route to the park keep an eye out for the continent's largest outdoor laundry, just before the entrance to Parc du Banco.
- Region/City Name
- Abidjan
Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro is the official capital of Ivory Coast, however this seems to be only by name. The city is a five hour drive from Abidjan and seems to be one of Africa's strangest capital cities. Paved streets and street lamps were built in preparation for the buzzing metropolis Yamoussoukro was supposed to be, however this metropolis never came to exist and so now streets exist with little to nothing between them. The city's main attraction is the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro (Cathedrale Notre Dame de la Paix or Basilica Notre Dame), larger than St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Yamoussoukro's basilica is the largest Christian church in the world. It was modeled after the Vatican's St. Peter's, and even though the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace seats slightly less people than St. Peter's it has a taller dome and a larger surface area. The stained glass windows are also exceptionally beautiful. The Basilica Notre Dame was consecrated by Pope John Paul II.
Man
Man is a small town situated to the west of the central region of Ivory Coast. The town is known as the best area to buy the famous Yacouba masks as well as traditional fabrics. Mount Tonikoui towers over the town at 4000 feet (1220m). There are also a number of rivers and waterfalls, such as La Cascade which is set in a bamboo forest, close to the town.
