Cape Town, known as the ‘Mother City’, is located in one of the southernmost points of the African continent, overlooking the stunning vistas of the Cape of Good Hope and dominated by the majestic Table Mountain that forms the backdrop to its skyline. Endemic nature, breathtaking coastal landscapes, characteristic Victorian architecture and a modern and dynamic urban centre make for a multicultural and avant-garde city that has so much to offer, in every respect.
It is difficult to describe in a few lines the thousands of reasons why you should visit Cape Town, at least once in your life. Extraordinary nature trails in the middle of the city centre, art and antiques, avant-garde design and colourful handicrafts, as characteristic and colourful as the Afrikaner architecture of the historic quarters. But also splendid modern buildings and, a few miles from the coast, emblematic islets where the political destiny of an entire nation was played out, not forgetting top-quality food and wine and a vast array of outdoor activities or water sports, among oceanic beaches inhabited by penguins and adorned with colourful bathing cages, surrounded by unique ecosystems.
The symbol of Cape Town is undoubtedly the monumental Table Mountain, which dominates the city from the top of its vertiginous vistas. The city has developed around its imposing morphology and gathers in the City Bowl, almost in veneration at its feet. A city in symbiosis with nature, the mountains and the ocean, offering some of the most striking and photographed views in the world. We are in one of the southernmost points of the immense African continent, near the Cape of Good Hope.
A typical day for a tourist in Cape Town might start at Table Mountain National Park, amidst a series of nature trails, blooming steep glades, wild forests, seascapes of incredible beauty, and rocky summits, reached by a spectacular cable car.
The second stop is undoubtedly the historic Victoria & Albert Waterfront, where the Dutch-inspired colonial architecture and general atmosphere are more reminiscent of a small provincial port on the Rhine than a South African port on the Atlantic Ocean. Amidst Victorian-era buildings, antique dealers, art and craft emporiums, quaint restaurants and bars, you will admire the bustle of fishing boats and yachts that make it one of the city’s most picturesque destinations. Take a break here to sample the famous biltong and excellent local wines, produced in the Winelands and renowned throughout the world, before embarking on a trip to Robben Island (UNESCO), a memorial island and emblem of Nelson Mandela’s political struggle against apartheid, a man who needs no introduction and who spent much of his life in prison on the island, writing his memoirs and coordinating the opposition to the segregationist Afrikaner government, before becoming President of South Africa.
Not to be missed is a visit to the colourful and historic Bo-Kaap district, known as the ‘Malay Quarter’, a colourful Afrikaner-style suburb, established in the 18th century to house Indo-Chinese Muslim slaves, hence the presence of numerous mosques to this day, and which has become one of the architectural symbols of Cape Town and its multicultural cosmopolitanism.
And, speaking of colours, let’s not forget that Cape Town overlooks one of the most varied and characteristic coastlines in the world, between cliffs and scenic roads on immense Atlantic beaches, adorned by the famous wooden bathing huts, painted like a rainbow, of which the most picturesque are at Muizenberg, an ideal place for splendid walks and water sports. Moving further south in the direction of the Cape, one arrives at the granite bays of Boulders beach, known worldwide as home to a copious colony of around 2,000 penguins, an attraction that attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Needless to say, between nature walks, beach activities, strolls on the beach or through historic neighbourhoods, cultural visits to museums and botanical gardens, shopping in the myriad craft boutiques and antique galleries, renowned restaurants and wine bars, art exhibitions and design salons, Cape Town is spoilt for choice for a stay full of attractions.
