Benin: Porto Novo
Porto Novo is the capital of Benin (before, it was the capital of the small Kingdom of Hogbonu). The city was originally built out and developed by the Portuguese (hence the name) and a port for slave trade. After the emancipation of slaves in Brazil, a lot of people came back to Porto Novo and established themselves here – the city is full of Portuguese-Brazilian architecture, culture, cuisine. There are several historic buildings that truly stand out in their beauty – the foremost is the Grande Mosque of Porto Novo, which actually looks like a catholic cathedral and was intentionally modeled on the churches of Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. Another one is the Porto Novo Cathedral. Finally, the main square with the monument to the King Toffa is also worth a walk around.
