Time Zone |
Africa/Porto-Novo |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+1 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Africa/Sao_Tome |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Abomey is the capital of the Ancestral Department of the Republic of Benin, located in the south of the country, about 145 kilometers from the economic capital of Cotonou. The city was once the capital of the historically powerful Kingdom of Dahomey in West Africa (c. 1600-1894) and is known for its unique cultural heritage.
Abomey's most famous landmark is the Abomey Palace, a complex of 12 palaces built by successive kings. Constructed in traditional earthen materials and decorated with beautiful shallow reliefs that tell the history and mythology of the kingdom, the Abomey Palace was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and has become Benin's most important tourist attraction.
Today Abomey is an important cultural center and agricultural market town. The economy is predominantly agricultural, with corn, cassava and palms grown. The city retains a strong traditional atmosphere and is a must-visit place to learn about Benin's history, voodoo culture and the glorious past of the Kingdom of Dahomey.
São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in west-central Africa, consisting of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and the surrounding islets, with the capital, São Tomé, located in the northeastern part of São Tomé. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, about 200 kilometers from the African continent, the country was colonized by Portugal in the 15th century and became independent in 1975, with Portuguese as the official language and an economy based on agriculture (cocoa, palm oil) and tourism. It should be noted that "Java" is not a city or region of the country; Java is the main island of Indonesia, with cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya, and has nothing to do with São Tomé and Príncipe, possibly due to a confusion of names.