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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Africa
- South Africa
- Port Elizabeth
- Market Square
Market Square
Port Elizabeth's architectural heritage can be traced by taking
a walk around the central city Market Square, which features
several historic buildings. The centrepiece of the square is the
aesthetically pleasing City Hall, dating from 1858, topped with an
attractive clock tower. Also in the square is a replica of the Diaz
Cross that commemorates the first European to set foot in Algoa Bay
in 1488, when Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz stopped over on
his way east. Alongside the city hall is the Prester John Memorial,
dedicated to the Portuguese explorers who landed in South Africa.
On the northwest flank of the square is the city's public library,
built in 1835 and originally used as a courthouse. The beautiful
building is regarded as an excellent example of Victorian Gothic
architecture and is interesting in that its façade was manufactured
in England and shipped to Port Elizabeth to be recreated piece by
piece. In front of the library stands a marble statue of Queen
Victoria, which was unveiled in 1903. Slightly downhill from the
square, at the entrance to the harbour, stands the Campanile,
containing the biggest carillon of bells (23) in the country.
Visitors can climb 204 steps to enjoy the view from the top of this
monument, which commemorates the landing of the 1820 settlers.
Information & Facts
Language
South Africa has 11 official languages, including
Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho. English is widely
spoken.
Money
South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR), which is divided into
100 cents. Money can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and
the larger hotels. ATMs are widely available (there is a daily
limit for cash withdrawals) and major international credit cards
are widely accepted, except in petrol stations where cash is
required. Visitors should be vigilant when drawing cash from ATMs,
as con artists are known to operate there. Travellers cheques and
some foreign currencies are accepted at larger hotels and shops,
but commission is charged, otherwise all commercial banks will
exchange them.
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