Cape Town: the oldest city in South Africa

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Cape Town, the capital of the Western Cape province, is the second most populous metropolitan area in South Africa with approximately 4 million inhabitants. It was founded by the Dutch in 1652 as an outpost along the road to the East Indies.

Cape Town is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world for its location. The city is in fact immersed in a spectacular natural setting, located on the sea around the famous Table Mountain (1,086 meters) and at the beginning of the Cape of Good Hope peninsula.

Tourism represents one of the driving sectors of the city’s economy, together with the manufacturing sector. The city is home to the National Parliament and therefore is the legislative capital of South Africa.

WHAT TO SEE: THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF CAPE TOWN

Cape Town (Cape Town or Kaapstad) is the oldest city in South Africa. It was founded in 1652 by a Dutch expedition under the command of Jan Van Riebeeck. The fleet, consisting of 5 ships, had been sent by the powerful Dutch East India Company (VOC) in order to found a permanent settlement near the Cape of Good Hope. The purpose of the settlement was to be able to supply ships along the route from Europe to the East. The first building built was a small wooden fort, replaced in 1666 by a more robust stone fort called the Castle of Good Hope (“Kasteel van Goede Hoop”).

Cape Town developed around the fort, which still exists today. This city is now the second largest city in South Africa and the capital of the Western Cape province. It is also the legislative capital of South Africa because it is the seat of the South African parliament here. The city is famous for being inserted in a beautiful and suggestive natural landscape, which makes it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is in fact located on the Cape of Good Hope peninsula, along a large bay dominated by the famous Table Mountain which exceeds 1,000 meters in height (1,086 meters).

A POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION

Cape Town is the most popular tourist destination in South Africa thanks to the many natural attractions. Among these we find the famous Table Mountain. The spectacular Cape of Good Hope peninsula with Cape Point. But also the famous Chapman’s Peak Drive scenic route. The numerous and beautiful beaches such as those of Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town where you can admire a colony of penguins. The city is also home to the majestic Kirstenbosch botanical gardens.

Among the historical and cultural attractions, do not miss the ancient Dutch fort, the Castle of Good Hope. In the sea off the town lies the infamous Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was locked up during his prison years. Very interesting are the Cape Dutch architecture of many houses in the city center. Also worth visiting is the characteristic Malay district of Bo-Kaap. If you like shopping you must visit the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront which is the most popular shopping center in the city, cleverly inserted in the old port of the city, also the Two Oceans Aquarium is also located here.

The climate of Cape Town.

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