Great Mosque of Porto-Novo
Great Mosque of Porto-Novo
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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sd JAZZ i SŁONIE
Skierniewice, Poland16,196 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
The mosque was built in the years 912-25 but is already very neglected, although recently recognized as a historic one. It is distinguished by its unusual architecture in the African-Brazilian style and the colors of the facade. Built on the model of churches in northern Brazil from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. It still serves the faithful, but a new, much larger mosque was built next to it.
Written May 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bogusz O
Krakow, Poland101 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Its unique - a mosque that looks like a cathedral. Build by Brazillians, who have constructed it according to their aestetic taste.
Unfortunately the building is falling apart - cracks are visible, wood is falling apart and some parts of the roof seem to be missing. The local government should be ashamed, as they are letting a wonderful work of architecture die on their watch.
Shame... Shame... Shame...
Unfortunately the building is falling apart - cracks are visible, wood is falling apart and some parts of the roof seem to be missing. The local government should be ashamed, as they are letting a wonderful work of architecture die on their watch.
Shame... Shame... Shame...
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bg564
Windhoek, Namibia850 contributions
Aug 2022
We were told that the reason that this mosque looks like a Catholic church is that in Brazil the slaves weren't permitted to worship in the churches which were only for the whites. Among the slave in Brazil were many Muslims who informed the slave community that Islam didn't require a church to be able to pray to God which created a lot of converts to Islam. When some of the freed Brazilian slaves returned to Porto Novo the first thing the Afro Brazilians wanted to do was to create a place to worship but the only architectural style they knew was the Catholic church so this Mosque was built in that style. It is sadly neglected and this is an important world heritage site which should be preserved..
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EDUCLIME TOURS AND EVENTS
1 contribution
May 2024 • Friends
Great view! The Afro-Brazilian architecture takes one back to hundreds of years ago. The building is no longer in use, as a modern mosque has been erected beside it. The local market, one of the largest in Porto Novo, is close by. You can shop for many items here, including textiles, street food, and the like.
Written May 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anago O
114 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
It was great to be in the trip with Anago Osho Adventures in Porto Novo and discover the Great mosque of Porto Novo. The architectural piece is a combination of Portuguese architecture and African designs. The mosque is a unique sight to behold and you can not miss it as you drive around the capital. To visit the attraction is easy but visitors must dress appropriately and simple.
To get the best of the place, it is advisable to book a guide ahead so that you meet someone who will give you an exclusive tour.
The history of this place also depict the old relationship between the Catholic and Islam.
To get the best of the place, it is advisable to book a guide ahead so that you meet someone who will give you an exclusive tour.
The history of this place also depict the old relationship between the Catholic and Islam.
Written July 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
70ava
Beijing, China1,015 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
Visiting many Islamic communities all over the world, we have never ever encountered a mosque that looks like a Brazilian church. It is amazing, colorful, magnificent writings in Arabic on the outside wall (look at the facade on the other side). A real gem. However, like all other old Portuguese building, it is crumbling. What a shame, such an incredible monument.
Written January 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
70ava
Beijing, China1,015 contributions
Jan 2019
Porto Novo has amaing history and people, and some fascinating sites. That one is certainly unique. It looks like a typical South American church facade from the 18th century, but it is a mosque. The Arabic verses from the Kuran are beautiful, the art and colors are all original and unique. Take your time walking around. Unfortunately, it is not well kept. We loved it - nothing like it anywhere else.
Written October 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary T
Buenos Aires, Argentina2,902 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
This Portuguese church, converted into a mosque is quite the sight. We could not go inside, because Friday prayers were being held. But the market across the way is interesting, so it was worth stopping by.
Written March 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
VuAfrik
Togo18 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
"Travel With VuAfrik at Benin"
Old and one Biggest Mosquee in West Africa.
Atypical mosque of the world in Benin(at Porto Novo)
The style of the building dates the 19th century and was influenced by Old Moslem slaves who returned from Brazil and mixed the Brazilian influences with Africa to create a dynamics, a colored style. Its architecture outside is almost identical to the churches from San Salvador of Bahia in Brazil.
Old and one Biggest Mosquee in West Africa.
Atypical mosque of the world in Benin(at Porto Novo)
The style of the building dates the 19th century and was influenced by Old Moslem slaves who returned from Brazil and mixed the Brazilian influences with Africa to create a dynamics, a colored style. Its architecture outside is almost identical to the churches from San Salvador of Bahia in Brazil.
Written February 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anu P
17 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
We stayed only one day in Porto-Novo, the capital of Benin, and I really enjoyed this amazing building. This was the old Mosque a treasure building for the country.
Written November 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Not exactly... Some of the brazilian slave took the way back to Africa. In the years of slavery in Brazil they learnt a lot of skills, one of them was how to build. The Islam Community cotracted them to build a Mosk. However, the only temple that they had built before was a chruch. There is nice documentary about it called Atlantico Negro: a rota dos orixá
Written July 11, 2018
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