Greenmarket+Square

Greenmarket Square is located in the center of Cape Town’s business district. It was erected in1696 when a citizen watch house was built. Unfortunately, this building was demolished in 1761 and a new building was put up that served as the city hall for a number of years. Since the square was erected, it has served many purposes including a slave market, fruit and vegetable market, a parking lot, and it is currently an informal flea market. Many unique, hand crafted items can be found in the square from the vendors. At the center of the square, there is a hand operated pump that brings clean water to the surface from the river that runs under Cape Town. Due to the ethnicity of the vendors and shoppers, as well as the close proximity to the African parliament, Green market Square was a center of political protests during the Apartheid era.