Follow us to discover the incredible capital of Senegal, rich in history, culture and with an enchanting panorama
The city of Dakar, capital of the Republic of senegalese, it is one of the most important urban areas in Northern Africa and has over two million inhabitants between the city and its surroundings. The city, also known as Ndakaaru in the Wolof language, the second official language of the state together with French, is located on the tip of the enchanting Cape Verde peninsula, and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, has breathtaking naturalistic views and some of the most beautiful beaches of the entire African continent.
Famous for its lively and confusing atmosphere, the capital Dakar is one of the most modern and cutting-edge African cities and is the ideal destination for those who want to enjoy an electrifying holiday discovering a stimulating cultural reality and long walks along the shore sea! The city, in addition to being the seat of Senegal's national assembly and its main economic centre, is universally known for having long been the last stage of the Dakar Rally, the very famous motorcycling and car race.
The main square of the city is Independence Square, the beating heart of the economic life of the capital, overlooked by the headquarters of all the most important companies and banks in the country, housed in clear and modern multi-storey buildings. We also recommend you take a long walk along the street called Corniche, which flanks much of the enchanting city coastline, along which you can truly savor the active and creative spirit of the city. In fact, near the Corniche you will come across artisan ateliers, clubs, gastronomic bazaars, and an incredible coming and going of locals and tourists.
Among the most important monuments of the city of Dakar we can certainly include the valuable one Cathedral of Our Lady of victories, designed by the architect Wulffleff and consecrated in 1936. The church has an eclectic style, both in terms of the materials used and from an architectural point of view: the building is in fact the result of a fusion of different elements and cultural influences, from Byzantine architecture to that of Sudan. The cathedral has a cross structure and is topped by a large dome, which stands out on the city skyline, embellishing the panorama with its bright windows.
For those interested in learning more about the cultural aspects of Senegalese culture, we recommend dedicating a couple of hours to visiting the small but interesting Fundamental Institute of Black Africa, founded in 1938 in the capital. The ethnographic institute, which presents a splendid collection of sculptures, artefacts and musical instruments from Senegal and neighboring countries, is managed by the Cheikh Anta Diop University and the related Fundamental Institute of Black Africa.
In 1910 the then president of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, commissioned the construction of the infamous monument to the African Renaissance, an imposing bronze statue almost fifty meters high. The controversial monument installed on the top of a one hundred meter high hill close to the capital has received a polemical welcome from the beginning from numerous voices from the Senegalese intelligentsia due to the excessive waste of public money used for its construction.
The monument to the African Renaissance represents the figure of a woman and a man, who supports a child who turns his hand in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean: the high symbolic value of the monument has made the work one of the most visited and important throughout the African continent, as well as representing one of the symbols of the Senegalese capital.
Dakar, in addition to its immense and enchanting beaches, is famous for its crowded and well-stocked restaurants markets, among which we cannot fail to mention that of Tilene, where you will find all kinds of food products and beautiful fabrics at really low prices! Another well-known market in the capital of Senegal is that of Colobane, perhaps the one with the most varied offer, while the most "touristy" market, both in terms of prices and type of offer, is that of Sandaga .
