La fundación de Pretoria, capital administrativa de Sudáfrica, data de 1855, mientras que su riqueza se debe a los yacimientos de diamantes y a las minas Cullinan. Hoy en día es muy importante su polo universitario, con todo lo que ello conlleva en términos de vitalidad y dinamismo: la masiva presencia de estudiantes ha sido el origen de muchos locales y puntos de encuentro de moda, hervideros de ideas y estilos de vida.
1 What to see in Pretoria: the historic center
Pretoria has a compact and cozy historic center, convenient and pleasant to visit on foot. Church Square is its heart, witness to the main political events of the country during the 20th century. Several institutional buildings overlook the square: the old parliament building, called Raadsaal; the General Post Office; the Reserve Bank; the Palace of Justice in late 19th-century style; the Netherlands Bank Buildings and others. Here is also the historic Caffè Riche, a triumph of Art Nouveau style. In the center of the square stands the statue of the 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 can be easily visited: it houses the original late 19th-century furnishings. Opposite, there is also Kruger’s Church.
3 Hatfield and Sunnyside, neighborhoods of Pretoria
To the north of the square, there are the Union Buildings, an architectural complex from 1913, the seat of the national government, and the Zoo. To the east, the Pretoria University and the Hatfield neighborhood appear, full of bars, clubs, restaurants, and places to stay out late.
And to the south, the Sunnyside neighborhood, the liveliest and most popular, with African craft shops, art galleries, cultural centers, and alternative venues.
