City (pop. 1994 est.: 200,000), seaport, and de facto capital of Benin, on the Gulf of Guinea , western Africa.
Situated on a coastal lagoon in the southeastern part of the country, it was probably founded in the late 16th century as the centre of the kingdom of Porto-Novo. The Portuguese established a trading post in the 17th century, and it became a centre of the slave trade . It became a French protectorate in 1863. In 1904 it became the capital of the French West African colony of Dahomey. The ruins of old African palaces remain, and there are many colonial style buildings, including the old Portuguese cathedral. Porto-Novo was established as the offical capital of the country by the constitution, but only the legislature is found there; the president and most government ministers reside in Cotonou .