Porto-Novo, Benin Porto-Novo is the administrative capital city of Benin. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and was founded sometime in the late 16th century by the Portugese. It was named after another city to which it bore some resemblance. It flourished due to the slave trade with the Portugese, after which it came under French colonial control. The city has a population of around 200,000. It is connected to Cotonou, which is Benin's major industrial area. Important buildings in the city include the national archives, government buildings, Ethnography Museum and the Palais du Roi Toffa. There are also various African art guilds in the city.
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