Porto-Novo
Benin · Ouémé · 15 m
Description
Porto-Novo is the official capital of Benin, a quieter town than Cotonou on a lagoon inlet, founded by the Portuguese as a slaving port and later a Yoruba kingdom. Afro-Brazilian houses built by returning freed slaves stand among Yoruba compounds, and the Grande Mosquée is a former church in Bahian baroque, painted in ochre and pale blue and unmistakably Brazilian. The Honmé Museum occupies the royal palace of King Toffa, and the Ethnographic Museum holds a large collection of Yoruba masks. The Songhai centre on the edge of town is a well known agroecology project.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: July – August or November – February
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Grande Mosquée in Afro-Brazilian style
- Honmé Royal Palace Museum
- Ethnographic Museum of Porto-Novo
- Afro-Brazilian houses
- Jardin des Plantes et de la Nature
- Adjarra drum and craft market(Day trip)
- Songhai agroecology centre
- Ouémé lagoon pirogue trips
- Porto-Novo Great Market
- Yoruba mask collections
Getting there
- Nearest airports:
- COO