Pretoria-a garden city

Situated to the north of Johannesburg, Pretoria is South Africa's present day administrative capital. The city was built in 1855 and named after Boer Republic's first president Marthinus Wessel Pretorius.   

Since the city's streets are lined with some 55,000 Jacaranda plants, which reach their full bloom every spring in October, Pretoria has earned its nickname of Jacaranda City.
Although Pretoria downtown is relatively "less busy" compared to Johannesburg, its metropolitan qualities are no less distinct and all the foreign embassies are situated there. The Union Buildings rest at the foot of Meintjieskop. The architecture was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and they have been recognized as the representative landmark of Pretoria. It is safe to say that no other governmental buildings around the world are established in such a majestic environment of nature as the Union Buildings. This place has witnessed many notable historic events: Nelson Mandela was sworn into office at the Union Buildings on May 10 1994; The Three Tenors (Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras) held their highly anticipated concert in April 1994. Although the buildings are not open to the public, you could still enjoy a panoramic view of Pretoria in its entirety from the steps.
 

  Popular attractions: A statue of Paul Kruger (the last president of the Boer Republic) is erected at the Church Square. 
Other architectures with notable historic significance include the Old Raadsaal (Old Council Chamber), the Palace of Justice, Kruger House Museum, Melrose House (an old Victorian styled building where the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed) and Voortrekker Monument, which is another renowned landmark of Pretoria. 

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