Cape Town City Hall

Description

The Cape Town City Hall, completed in 1905, was created in the Italian Renaissance style of ornately crafted granite and marble. The bell tower contains Africa's largest carillon of 39 bells and is modeled on London's Big Ben (although it is around 50% scale). Its main hall is often host to spectacular events, including many performance by the Cape Town Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras. The main hall even boasts a 3165 pipe organ.

The young Princess Elizabeth of England held a grand ball here in 1947 to celebrate her 21st birthday, and in 1990 Nelson Mandela addressed around 250 thousand people gathered at the Grand Parade upon his release from Robben Island from the City Hall balcony.