Benin

Porto-Novo is nominal capital of the country. Government and major part of business moved to the west, in Cotonou. Population of Port-Novo is about 180 thousands, and the city remains quite beautiful historical place. There are some commercial-advantages because of its nearness to Nigeria's border. In Gran IVlarche d'Ajara, which is still working, you can buy tom-toms, fabrics, hand-made baskets and the best earthenware in all Benin. In Porto Novo Museum of Ethnography, you can find great religious worship collection of Yaruba tribe. You can also visit ornamental Brazil church (it's mosque now), which was built by Portuguese in XVII century. Covered with palm leaves fishing villages staying on piles in lagoon near Porto-Novo, now, in XXI century, look like unusual buildings from the past.

Cotonou

Cotonou is the largest city in Benin. In the first place, tourists take an interest in National Museum and Botanic Garden. There are great number of local and international restaurants and striking bars and clubs in Jonke. The main sight of the city is huge beautiful market Gran Marshe d'Dantokpa. You can buy on low price different goods, from audio cassettes, radio equipment, provisions, to sacral voodoo items.

The best city beach is situated in 4 km from center of Cotonou. It's safe, clean and crowded place, but perfect beach is situated in 40 km to the capital, near Quidah (Quidah is a capital of Benin's voodoo)

Further to west are wonderful beaches Gran-Popo. Shores are quite safe, sand has charming white color and water is pure and limpid, that is seldom happens in Africa.

Ganvie-African Venice

Ganvie is situated to the north from Cotonou. Its population is only 12 thousand people, and they live in bamboo shacks on piles, scattered on a few kilometers on Nokue Lake. Tofinu tribe built this unique village in XVIII century for protection from Dahomey i and Fon kingdom's aggression, because their religion forbad the warrior to march into the river. Now, all buildings, restaurants and even hotels are elevated for 2 meters over the water. Locals are against from taking pictures, and it is better to refrain from photography in Ganvie.

Abomey

The town of Abomey is the old capital of the Fon kingdom of Dahomey. The main city sight is reconstructed King Palace of Fon with museum inside. Majority of buildings constructed in 1645 were destroyed by fire in 1892, but remained buildings are very beautiful and excite hold your attention by their age. The Palace is decorated with bronze unique bas-reliefs, which were announced as universal heritage by UNESCO. Museum has great display of voodoo objects; encrusted skulls, items of Portuguese colonization period and dwellings of local tribes, (it is strictly forbidden to take a pictures!)

In 600 km to northwest from Cotonou, at the border with Togo town Bokumbe is situated. It's widely used by the best market place all other the country. Only there you can buy local artisans' pride objects-rare traditional original sculptures and tobacco pipes made from valuable wood. Every four year in Bokumbe unique Lashing Festival is held. During this event, young naked people with lashes crowd andfight seriously with people from neighbouring villages. Of course it is ritual ceremony, which doesn't hurt really, but this show is not for nervous people.

There is great variety of religious and cult dances in this country. Every dance expresses some specific event or phenomenon. Sometimes choreographic group, but more often individual and very expressive local dancing ceremonies, can be compared with popular Japanese Kabuki. Dancing performances ordinary are held on special Festivals like La'Gani. It is holiday of folk culture. The greatest cultural events in Benin are held in Martyr's Day (16^th January, the day of victory over mercenaries, attacked Cotonou in XVII century), Independence Day (1^st August), State Holiday (30^th November) and Harvest Day (31^st December).