The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace ranks 1st in the list of best places to visit in Yamoussoukro. The instance of the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the largest church in the world, is the perfect illustration of the stark contrast between Yamoussoukro's run-down streets and its ambitious ambition to become a recognized capital city. The magnificent St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City served as the inspiration for the basilica, which was built in 1990. Still, it vastly outshines it thanks to its more significant dimensions and a dome with a diameter that is more than twice as enormous. Even the most seasoned tourists are taken aback by the Godzilla-sized church because it is so spectacular and unavoidable.

The church can accommodate up to 18,000 people, with space for 7,000 worshipers in the nave. However, due to the grandiose structure's location outside of the downtown area in a city that was never really thought of as a major international tourist destination, the average number of visitors rarely exceeds a few hundred. Given that the Basilica was constructed entirely out of marble imported from Italy and cost upwards of half a billion dollars, it was widely criticized for being an extravagant display of avarice in a nation where around 50% of people make less than $3 per day.

Google rating: 4.6/5.0
Address: Rue de St.France, Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
Phone number: +225 27 30 6 41021
Official site: https://basiliquenotredamedelapaix.com/