The founding of Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, dates back to 1855, while its wealth is due to the diamond deposits and the Cullinan mines. Today, its university hub is very important, with all that entails in terms of vitality and dynamism: the massive presence of students indeed fostered the birth of many trendy venues and hangouts, hotbeds of ideas and lifestyles.
1 What to See in Pretoria: The Historic Center
Pretoria has a compact and intimate historic center, convenient and pleasant to explore on foot. Church Square is its heart, witness to the main political events of the country during the 20th century. Several institutional buildings face the square: the old parliament building, called Raadsaal; the General Post Office; the Reserve Bank; the late 19th-century style Palace of Justice; the Netherlands Bank Buildings and others. Here is also the historic Caffè Riche, a triumph of Art Nouveau style. At the center of the square stands the statue of statesman Paul Kruger, a myth of Boer colonialism, who was hailed as the father of the nation.
2 Kruger’s House
His residence, Kruger’s House, with the famous veranda where guests and dignitaries were received, is located just west of Church Square and is freely visitable: it preserves original late 19th-century furnishings. Opposite it is also the Kruger’s Church.
3 Hatfield and Sunnyside, Neighborhoods of Pretoria
To the north of the square are the Union Buildings, an architectural complex from 1913, home to the national government, and the Zoo Garden. To the east rise Pretoria University and the Hatfield neighborhood, dense with bars, clubs, restaurants, and hangouts for late-night outings.
And to the south, the Sunnyside neighborhood, the liveliest and most popular, with African craft shops, art galleries, cultural centers, and alternative venues.
