The Embassy of Italy in Abidjan is located in the residential district of Cocody, in the northern part of the city, along the historic rue de la Canebière. According to local tradition, the street owes its name to a playful episode from the colonial era: some settlers allegedly “borrowed” the sign of the famous avenue in Marseille, giving this sandy track—running behind the early soap and bath oil factories of Blohorn—its evocative name.
Today, Cocody is one of the city’s most prominent cultural and institutional hubs. It hosts the Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, several private schools, the headquarters of the national broadcaster RTI, the presidential residence, and the majority of foreign embassies accredited in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Embassy compound includes both the Diplomatic Chancery and the Ambassador’s Residence. The Residence, originally built by the French government in 1933, was purchased by a local real estate company in 1940 and later sold to the Italian State on May 23, 1962. Since then, the premises have undergone several expansions and renovations, mainly to adapt the Chancery to the growing number of users and to the evolving needs of modern diplomacy.
The Residence’s garden, a distinguished setting for institutional and social gatherings, traditionally hosts the celebration of Italy’s National Day on June 2nd, welcoming local authorities, the Italian community, and members of the diplomatic corps.
