City Skyline Highlights: Explore the iconic Hôtel Ivoire amidst skyscrapers, accompanied by numerous banks, the parliament building, and the unique La Pyramide, blending traditional Ivorian market aesthetics with late 1960s concrete style.
Cultural Exploration at the Museum: Immerse yourself in the Museum of the Civilisations of Ivory Coast, boasting 15,000+ artifacts detailing the country's prehistory and history, including captivating masks.
St. Paul's Cathedral's Distinctive Features: Visit St. Paul's Cathedral, notable for its cable-supported abstract crucifix leaning towards Boulevard de Charles de Gaulle and the scenic lagoon.
Contemporary Art at Rotonde des Arts: Experience Plateau's vibrant shopping strip on Avenue Chardy, where the Rotonde des Arts showcases contemporary art, featuring temporary exhibitions on the ground floor and a permanent collection of modern Ivorian artworks upstairs.Treichville Market: Explore the bustling Treichville, housing Abidjan’s largest market on a scythe-shaped peninsula connected to Plateau by Pont Général-de-Gaulle. While equally vibrant as Plateau, Treichville boasts diverse industries, with barbers, butchers, tailors, and street-food vendors serving a lively crowd. The area is characterized by tenements, hammams, maquis, and drinking spots, showcasing customs and languages from various nationalities, including Ghanaians, Nigerians, Malians, Senegalese, Burkinabés, and more.
Old PDCI Building: Visit the utilitarian and somewhat decrepit old PDCI party headquarters. The building now features wonderful oil paintings on cracked walls. Explore the old archive room with vintage Kodak bags and dusty photo archives from the 1960s, belonging to the only newspaper allowed during Houphouët’s administration.Galerie Cécile Fakhoury (Bd Latrille): Visit this discreet and sophisticated gallery in Cocody, operating since 2012. Known for showcasing the finest in Ivorian contemporary art, it has featured works by artists like Paul Sika's vivacious pop art, Aboudi's frenetic war paintings, and Francois-Xavier Gbré’s photographic chronicles of urban decay. Director Cécile Fakhoury notes the thriving modern art scene in Abidjan, with overseas interest and artists gaining international recognition.
Village Ki-Yi M’Bock (Rue d’Attogban): Explore this unique arts center founded in 1982 by artist and dancer Werewere Liking. The indoor gallery houses surrealist and abstract-inflected plastic figurines, Liberian-influenced tribal statues, and Picasso-esque African scenes. The Romanesque mini-amphitheater, adorned with tribal patterns, hosts daily pan-African musical and theatrical performances.
