The Basilica of Yamoussoukro

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire's official political capital, is one of the most astonishing buildings in Africa, recognised as the largest church in the world by area. Consciously modelled on St Peter's Basilica in Rome, though built even larger, this colossal domed edifice of gleaming white marble, soaring columns and vast expanses of stained glass rises improbably from the surrounding savanna. Completed in 1989 and consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1990, it can hold many thousands of worshippers beneath its immense dome. Whatever one makes of the extravagance of its creation, its sheer scale, grandeur and unexpected setting make it a genuinely jaw-dropping sight.

History

The basilica was built between 1985 and 1989 by the French company Dumez, at a cost put by different sources at anything from 175 to 600 million US dollars, and its dome and encircled plaza were inspired by St Peter's in Vatican City. Guinness World Records lists it as the largest church in the world, with an area of 30,000 square metres (Wikipedia, Basilica of Our Lady of Peace).

What's there

• The vast basilica - the colossal marble church and dome.
• The stained glass - the immense expanses of coloured glass.
• The colonnade - the grand columns and plaza.
• The scale - the sheer, staggering size of the building.

When to go

November to March, the drier season, for the most comfortable travel and weather, as the basilica sits in the savanna interior; it is reached by road from Abidjan, often as a day trip or stop. The cool, marble interior is a refuge from the heat, and guided visits explain the extraordinary story of its construction.

Practical notes

The basilica is undeniably controversial, an object of staggering expense built in a developing country, which many find troubling, and it stands largely empty and out of scale with its modest surroundings; Yamoussoukro itself is a quiet, planned capital with few other draws. As a genuinely jaw-dropping architectural spectacle, the largest church on earth by area rising from the savanna, though, it is an extraordinary and unforgettable sight.

Nearby

The economic capital Abidjan and the central region are within reach.

Key facts