landscapes
m e g a l i t h s & m ys t e r i e s
c r a d l e s o f fa i t h
highlights
Basilica of our
Lady of Peace
window of Jesus and his Apostles.
It includes Félix Houphouët-Boigny
directly below Jesus—suggesting
he is a 13th Apostle.
Australia’s spectacular transcontinental railway
crosses landscapes of imposing majesty
by Pope John Paul II in 1990 remains
abandoned in an adjacent field.
n The cornerstone of the hospital laid
n Eating at roadside stalls and cafés
shrines
is a great way to meet local people and
the food is excellent. Stop at a maquis
(small open-air restaurant) to try
kedjenou (chicken and vegetables in
a mild sauce) with attiéké (fermented
grated cassava). Aloco (fried plantain
with onions and chilli) is both delicious
and tasty. Go easy with the potent
bangui (palm wine).
t h e p i l g r i m ’ s way
W
n Senufo tribal masks are a great
buy but they come with a caution.
Superstition surrounds their ownership
and wearing as they are believed to
hold the soul of a deceased ancestor.
c e r e m o n i e s & f e s t i va l s
in remembrance
ide, empty boulevards run through Yamoussoukro, capital of Côte d’Ivoire
(Ivory Coast), leading to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace. The world’s tallest
and largest Roman Catholic church, it is a close replica of the Vatican’s St.
Peter’s Basilica and was a project of former president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Pope
John Paul II consecrated Our Lady of Peace in 1990 on condition that it would be lower
than St Peter’s and that a hospital for the poor be built. Though the Ivoirian basilica’s
dome is not quite as high as St Peter’s, the cross on top reaches a greater height—
518 feet (158 meters)—and in 1990 the Guinness Book of World Records recognized it as the
world’s tallest Catholic church. The basilica’s construction took only three years, but
the hospital has yet to be built. Two embracing arms of high colonnaded walkways
welcome worshippers arriving across a plaza of more than 7 acres (3 hectares) of Italian
marble. Inside, morning sunlight throws a host of colors across the nave through 36
modernist stained windows made up of 79,700 square feet (7,400 square meters) of glass.
The main aisle is flanked by circular, individually air-conditioned pews facing a central
canopied altar, with seating for 7,000 people—and space for another 11,000 standing.
n Look for the blue stained glass
d a i ly d e v o t i o n
C Ô te d ’ Iv o i r e
majestic ruins
President Félix Houphouët-Boigny spared no expense in building the $300 million basilica. The glass for its vast stained windows was specially imported from France.
When to Go Visit in the cooler dry season—November–February—but beware December’s dusty Harmattan.
Planning Set aside two hours to wander around the church—or a little longer if you plan staying for a
service. Check your travel advisory before visiting as there has been periodic unrest in Côte d’Ivoire.
Though not everyone speaks English, many understand it if you are talking about the people or country.
Côte d’Ivoire is a malarial area: don’t forget malaria prophylaxis and also use insect repellent.
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r e t r e at s
Websites www.africaguide.com, www.travel.state.gov, www.fco.gov.uk