Abidjan, Ivory Coast

The skyscrapers that shape the skyline of Abidjan tell only part of the story of this boom-and-bust West African capital. Africa’s modern showplace has also suffered internal strife that decimated its aspirational economy. The large Musée des Civilisations de Cote d’Ivoire reveals the inherent creativity and aesthetic sophistication of its people, and the Banco National Park preserves a remnant of its lush interior forests within the city’s confines.