Yamoussoukro in Cote d’Ivoire

Also known as The Paris of Africa, Cote d’Ivoire (French for Ivory Coast) has great natural beauty, traditional cultural richness and beautiful beaches and national parks. Take a trip to the official capital city, Yamoussoukro. Côte d’Ivoire’s former president Felix Houphouet-Boigny lavished many gifts on his hometown, but the most spectacular by far is the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, a stunning, full-size replica of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The structure contains more stained glass than is found in all of France and is structurally bigger than the Vatican City. Yamoussoukro is perhaps the single most bizzare modern city on Earth. It is a large grid of paved streets and lights with almost nothing at all in between them and worth a visit.