Grand Parade (Cape Town)
Encyclopedia
The Grand Parade is the main public square in Cape Town
, South Africa
.
The square is surrounded by the Cape Town City Hall
, the Castle of Good Hope
, and the Cape Town railway station
.
The square is generally used as a market place and parking area but has also been the venue of major political rallies. It was the first place where Nelson Mandela
addressed South Africans following his release from prison in 1990 and also following his election as president on 9 May 1994.
The Grand Parade underwent extensive upgrades prior to being the venue for the 2010 World Cup FIFA Fan Fest in Cape Town.
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
The square is surrounded by the Cape Town City Hall
Cape Town City Hall
Cape Town City Hall is a large Edwardian building in Cape Town city centre which was built in 1905. It is located on the Grand Parade to the west of the Castle and is built from honey-coloured oolitic limestone imported from Bath in England.-History:...
, the Castle of Good Hope
Castle of Good Hope
The Castle of Good Hope is a star fort which was built on the original coastline of Table Bay and now, because of land reclamation, lies nearer to the Cape Town city centre in South Africa.-History:...
, and the Cape Town railway station
Cape Town Railway Station
Cape Town railway station is the main railway station of the city of Cape Town, South Africa. It is located along Adderley and Strand Streets in the city's central business district....
.
The square is generally used as a market place and parking area but has also been the venue of major political rallies. It was the first place where Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
addressed South Africans following his release from prison in 1990 and also following his election as president on 9 May 1994.
The Grand Parade underwent extensive upgrades prior to being the venue for the 2010 World Cup FIFA Fan Fest in Cape Town.
World Cup 2010 FIFA Fan Fest in Cape Town
The World Cup 2010 FIFA Fan Fest was located at the Grand Parade in central Cape Town. The Fan Fest is said to have hosted 560,000 visitors throughout the tournament. The Fan Fest reportedly cost 22 million South African Rands to build and could accommodate up to 25,000 people....