Abidjan

Abidjan

Abidjan is Côte d'Ivoire's largest city and economic capital, a cultural hub characterized by a high degree of industrialization and urbanization. In addition, it is one of the most populous French-speaking cities in Africa. The city of Abidjan is one of a kind in Africa. Nicknames such as "Manhattan of the Tropics", " Small Manhattan" or "Pearl of the Lagoons" give the city its unique image. With its hotels and sports facilities, vibrant nightlife, transport and communication links and stunning beauty, it is the ideal city for business tourism. Abidjan also has palm- and coconut-covered beaches around the lagoon in the Vridi area, which are very popular on weekends with their picturesque display of pineapple and coconut vendors. The city has many wide, shady streets and landscaped squares. Abidjan has a traditional Ivorian art museum, a national library and a number of agricultural and scientific research institutes. There are plenty of tourist attractions, such as the huge Hôtel Ivoire and the Italian-designed St Paul's Cathedral, one of the continent's most imposing churches. The Banco National Park, a magnificent tropical rainforest, is located north of the city. The park and ancient "sacred forest" of 3,000 hectares, converted in 1926, is located at the entrance to the town, in the Attécoubé community, preserved as the remains of the first forest surrounding the lagoon in the past.