Yamoussoukro is the capital of Côte d'Ivoire and is perhaps the single most bizarre modern city on Earth. It is a large grid of paved streets and lights with almost nothing at all in between them. It would seem that former President Felix Houphouet-Boigny's dream that his home town would become a busy capital city never came to fruition. Nevertheless "Yam" is worth a visit.
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The public gardens, the Fondation Felix Houphouet-Boigny and the old Presidential Palace are all impressive public expenditures from Houphouet-Boigny's rule.
- 1 Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. The largest Christian church in the world is the most remarkable legacy of Houphouet-Boigny. Although it doesn't seat nearly as many worshippers, it is structurally larger than St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City (after which it was modeled), with a greater surface area and higher dome. As a condition of his attendance at the basilica's consecration, Pope John Paul II insisted that a hospital be built nearby, and he laid the cornerstone for it during his visit; the stone still stands alone.
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- 1 Hôtel Président, ☏ +225 30 646464, info@hotelpresident.ci. Purpose-built luxury hotel, on-site restaurants, nightclub and a large swimming pool.