- rin tin tim
- First Reviewer
- 4 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 5
- Reviews
Editor Pick
Shopping at the Green Square Market
- April 16, 2006
- Rated 2 of 5 by
kwasiak from Tucson, Arizona
The Green Square Market officially closes at 5pm, but many of the vendors start packing up much early and are ready to leave by 5pm. We arrived at 4pm, and most were packing up and were done packing up by 4:30pm. The small amount we did see was interesting; however, we later learned that many of the products were actually crafted outside of South Africa in other sub-Saharan African countries. Thus, this is not the place to look if you want something truly South African.
Many of the stands had jewelry from bracelets to necklaces and elaborate dangling earrings. Some of the stands had wooden crafts, including elephant and rhino bookends. My favorite items were the small malachite animals. I ended up with a penguin, one to match my penguin I bought in Argentina.
Although it is a great place to shop and haggle, it is not very safe. Someone was robbed and a knife was drawn when we were leaving. You also have to put up with children beggars that will follow you throughout the market. We had been told not to give them money because there are many that are glue sniffers. Also, you would be mobbed by the others if you gave to one.
From journal Cape Town: First World to Third World
Editor Pick
Greenmarket Square & Old Townhouse
- November 10, 2005
- Rated 4 of 5 by
MiriamMannak from Cape Town, South Africa
Apart from buying and browsing for African curio, souvenirs, crafts, leather work, and African music, Greenmarket is just one of the many historic sites in Cape Town.
The square dates back to 1696, when the first Burgher Watch House (Now the Old Town House) was built. As a result, the square was known as the Burgher Watch Square. From here guards patrolled the streets of Cape Town to maintain law and order.
The Old Town House, the most prominent building on the square, accommodated the guards and served as the Burgher Senate. From 1840 till 1905 the Old Town House served as Cape Town’s City Hall.
It was in the 19th century that the square’s name was changed to Greenmarket Square. Here the fresh fruit and vegetables were sold by slaves earning their coolie money or slave earnings. The slaves used a tavern next to the Old Town House for drinking and gambling.
While slaves were at work, important proclamations were read from the balcony of the Old Town House, including the slave code. These were some of the rules slaves had to follow:
- They had to go bare feet and wear passes.
- Talking to another slave was answered with corporal punishment.
- Slaves had to indoors by 10pm.
- Slaves who raised their hands against a slave owner were put to death.
In 1914, the Old Town House became the city's first art museum. Currently it is the proud owner of the world-renowned Michaelis Collection, consisting of early and priceless Dutch and Flemish paintings, like those, for instance, of Johan Vermeer and Frans Hals.
From journal What to do in Cape Town?
Greenmarket Square
- May 2, 2005
- Rated 4 of 5 by
deescheer from lewisville, Texas
This flea market is the best I have ever been to. It is a lively and fun place to stroll about on a Saturday, and the best place to find good deals for all your souvenirs. There are so many different stalls with all sorts of different African arts and crafts, local artwork, and jewelery. I would highly recommend bargaining with the locals, as they come down on their prices. The market is open Monday through Saturday, from early morning until around 4pm.
From journal Back To My African Roots
Bargain Power
- November 20, 2002
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Niggles78 from England, United Kingdom
The Green Market Square is filled with absolutely everything. It's where a lot of my friends do their own clothes shopping. It is really difficult to move around as loads and loads of stalls are set up and people are always nagging you to shop at their stall. A BIG HINT: shop around!! You'll find what you like at a couple of stalls and they'll all be fighting for you to buy from them; be sure to haggle to get a good price. The market is surrounded by other shops that also make good stops for cheap high-street attire
From journal Cape Town Crazy
Green Square Market
- December 31, 2001
- Rated 4 of 5 by
rin tin tim from Yarm, United Kingdom
amazing, a real culture corner. Try your hand at haggling, hahaha. Shirts, trousers, skirts, material, bags, beads, earings, ornaments, carvings, toys and games. For no reason should this be missed. Oh yeh, it's closed on sunday (like everything else).
From journal Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town