The majestic Roman Catholic cathedral known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro, often called the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Africa, is situated in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. It can hold up to 18,000 people at once and has a 30,000 square-meter floor area, making it the largest church in the world.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro
Félix Houphout-Boigny, a former president of the Ivory Coast, ordered the construction of the Basilica between 1985 and 1989 in memory of his mother, a devoted Catholic.
The government of the Ivory Coast provided all of the funding for the basilica’s construction, which cost over $300 million. The Basilica was built with materials that were brought in from all over the world. For instance, the stained glass windows in the Basilica were brought from France, while the marble used in its construction was supplied from Italy.
The Basilica’s facade is composed of marble and granite, and it is embellished with stained-glass windows that feature biblical imagery. It is one of the tallest structures in Africa standing at a height of 158 meters.
A bronze statue of the Virgin Mary adorns the marble altar of the basilica. The basilica also boasts a museum that houses antiques and presents that were given to President Félix Houphouet-Boigny during his lifetime.
The magnificent edifice is a popular tourist destination in Ivory Coast that draws numerous travellers each year. For Catholics from all over the world, it is a significant place of pilgrimage. Other attractions in Yamoussoukro, in addition to the basilica, are the Presidential Palace, the former home of President Félix Houphout-Boigny, and the Yamoussoukro Crocodile Lake, a nature reserve that is home to several crocodile species.
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