A massive dome, standing 158 meters high, dominates the Ivorian savanna near Yamoussoukro, a city in Côte d'Ivoire. Completed in 1990, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Yamoussoukro is the world's largest Christian religious building, surpassing even Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, from which it draws architectural inspiration. The structure can hold 18,000 seated people and 11,000 standing, and its dome is 17 meters taller than Saint Peter's. The basilica's stained glass, spread across 18,500 panels covering 8,400 square meters, is the largest stained glass surface in the world. Yamoussoukro became the capital of Côte d'Ivoire in 1983, a decision made by Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the country's first president, who wanted to establish his birthplace as the symbolic center of Ivorian power. The small village, originally named N'Gokro, was renamed Yamoussoukro in honor of Yaa N'So, Houphouet-Boigny's great aunt, with "kro" meaning "village" in the Baoule language. Despite ambitious plans to transform the area into a modern capital with an international airport, a polytechnic institute, and other infrastructure, most political and administrative institutions never moved there. Only the basilica was fully completed among the planned projects. Construction of the basilica began in 1985 with the laying of the first stone, and nearly 1,500 African workers helped build the structure under the supervision of 24 Ivorian and foreign companies. The project was driven by the urgency of Houphouet-Boigny, who wanted to see the building completed before his death. The basilica was consecrated on September 10, 1990, five years after the first stone was laid. Its dome, 90 meters in diameter, is twice as wide as that of Saint Peter's Basilica and stands 158 meters high. The structure rests on a triple colonnade of 48 Doric columns and 12 Ionic columns representing the twelve apostles. Funded by Houphouet-Boigny from his personal wealth, the basilica's exact cost remains uncertain, with estimates varying widely. The Vatican required that part of the funding be used for social works, and the basilica's annual maintenance costs about $1.5 million, supported by donations and a foundation based in Yamoussoukro. Though the city has grown to a population of nearly 250,000, it remains largely underdeveloped compared to other West African capitals. The basilica remains the world's largest church in the Guinness World Records, despite the completion of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona in 2026, which now holds the title of the tallest basilica.