A visit to Pretoria would be incomplete without a stop at Church Square. Sculptor Anton Von Wouw’s bronze statue of Paul Kruger (painted silver in October 2014 as a part of a guerilla art programme, Cool Capital 2014), the 19th Century South African leader who became known as an icon of Boer resistance to British rule commands the centre. Nearby is the Palace of Justice, where Nelson Mandela and his compatriots were tried and sentenced to life in prison during the famous Rivonia Trial of 1964. Other historic buildings include the Ou Raadsaal (Old Government) building, the Capitol Theatre and the Nederlandsche Bank building. There are lovely places to grab an al fresco breakfast and coffee and from which to watch the passersby, including the historic Cafe Riche and Tribeca on Madiba Street.

The Square is laid out with a series of gardens popular on Saturday afternoons with city dwellers and charismatic preachers. Park photographers are stationed around the Paul Kruger statue and will snap and print your photo in minutes. Major road construction around Church Square has been underway for some time, but it's worth navigating your way around the mess to take in the square for its array of architectural styles, sculpture and street life.