Market SquarePort 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 fa?§ade 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
Victori |
