Durban Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Tourism and culture== {{Also| List of nature reserves in eThekwini}} Durban has been named the greenest city in the world by Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecr.co.za/news/news/durban-has-gone-green/|title=Durban named world's greenest city|website=ECR|date=December 19, 2019|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/kwazulu-natal/durban-named-greenest-city-in-the-world-39403941|title=Durban named greenest city in the world {{!}} Daily News|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en|date=December 18, 2019|access-date=2020-01-09}}</ref> ===Tourist destinations=== {{div col|colwidth=15em}} * [[Burman Bush]] * [[Durban Art Gallery]] * [[Durban Botanic Gardens]] * [[Durban Art Gallery|Durban Natural Science Museum]] * [[Greyville Racecourse]] - home of the [[Durban July Handicap]] and Durban Country Club and golf course * [[Hawaan Forest]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.countrylife.co.za/adventure/walk-ancient-forest|title=A Walk in an Ancient Forest in Umhlanga|last=Horn|first=Gerhard|date=2018-05-07|website=SA Country Life|language=en-ZA|access-date=2019-05-23}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * [[Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve]] * [[Kingsmead Cricket Ground]] - a major [[Test cricket|test match]] and [[Limited overs cricket|one-day cricket]] venue. * [[Kings Park Stadium]] - home ground of the internationally renowned [[Sharks (rugby union)|Sharks]] rugby team. * [[Mitchell Park Zoo]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g312595-d480869-Reviews-Mitchell_Park-Durban_KwaZulu_Natal.html|title=Mitchell Park (Durban) - 2019 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) |website=TripAdvisor |language=en |access-date=2019-05-21}}</ref> * [[Moses Mabhida Stadium]] * [[New Germany Nature Reserve]]<ref name="durb_NewG">{{cite web| title = New Germany Nature Reserve| work = durban.gov.za| access-date = 2015-08-12| url = http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/ParksRecreation/pnature/Pages/NGermarny.aspx| archive-date = 21 September 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150921165928/http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/ParksRecreation/pnature/Pages/NGermarny.aspx| url-status = dead}}</ref> * [[Pigeon Valley|Pigeon Valley Nature reserve]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bereamail.co.za/148625/exploring-pigeon-valley-natal-elm/|title=Exploring Pigeon Valley: The Natal Elm|date=2019-01-26|website=Berea Mail|access-date=2019-05-23}}</ref> * [[Umgeni River Bird Park]] * [[Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve]] * [[uShaka Marine World]] {{div col end}} === Cultural attractions === There are many museums, art galleries, theatres, and other centres of culture in Durban. The '''African Art Centre''' is "the longest surviving organisation involved in the development and promotion of African artists and crafters", founded in 1960, and moving to a new home in Station Drive in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bereamail.co.za/121259/the-african-art-centre-has-a-new-home/ |title=The African Art Centre has a new home |website= Berea Mail|date=21 November 2017 |access-date=2019-05-23}}</ref> '''Ethekwini Municipal Libraries''' is a free [[public library]] network with 90 circulating branch libraries across the metropolitan area, and the Central Reference Library at the Liberty Towers Building, which includes a significant collection of [[Africana books]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Galleria Mall Municipal Library | website=galleria.co.za | url=https://www.galleria.co.za/businesses/galleria-mall-municipal-library/ | access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> {{anchor|phansi}}<!---redirect targets this anchor--->The '''Phansi Museum''' is located in the historic Roberts House, a 19th-century colonial mansion and former home of Esther Roberts, a librarian and collector of Africana, member and supporter of the [[Black Sash]] anti-apartheid group. The collection and library is now linked to the [[University of KwaZulu-Natal]].<ref>{{cite web | title=ABOUT β PHANSI MUSEUM | website=phansi.com | url=https://phansi.com/about/ | access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> It is one of the most extensive Southern African art museums in the world, founded by Paul Mikula, who purchased artefacts from traditional craftspeople through Southern Africa over 30 years. The collection includes 19th-century [[beadwork]], pottery, carvings, and textiles. Talks and exhibitions are held at the museum.<ref>{{cite web | title=Phansi Museum | website=Museum Explorer SA | date=18 March 2023 | url=https://museumexplorer.co.za/phansi-museum/ | access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> {{anchor|playhouse}}'''The Playhouse Theatre''' is located on Anton Lembede Street (formerly Smith Street). The original building on the site was a cinema built in 1896, which was rebuilt in 1935 in [[Tudor Revival architecture|Tudor Revival]] style. The cinema reopened on 7 June 1935 and finally closed in the 1970s.<ref name=ct/> After being taken over by the Performing Arts Council in the 1980s,<ref name=cityseeker>{{cite web | title=The Playhouse, Durban | website=cityseeker | url=https://cityseeker.com/durban/214517-the-playhouse | access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> the building was restored in 1985β6, and with the former Colosseum Theatre (or Prince's Theatre) is now a [[performing arts]] centre with five venues. The refurbishment architects, Small & Pettit & Robson, were awarded the 1987 Institute of South African Architects Natal Award of Merit for the work.<ref name=ct>{{cite web | title=Playhouse Theatre in Durban, ZA | website=Cinema Treasures | url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/12685 | access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Playhouse details | website=artefacts.co.za | url=https://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/bldgframes_mob.php?bldgid=3502 | access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> home to the Playhouse Theatre Company.<ref>{{cite web | title=home| website= The Playhouse Company | date=13 July 2023 | url=https://playhousecompany.com/ | access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> The company's mission is "is to provide cultural education and entertainment in both an African and international context" and, apart from drama and dance performances, the company runs an educational program and presents theatre to schools.<ref name=cityseeker/> The Playhouse has been a venue for staging the work of many famous South African playwrights, including [[Mbongeni Ngema]], <ref name=filmbio>{{cite web|url=https://www.sarafina.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sarafina_presskit_2023.pdf| title= Sarafina: Mbongeni Ngema: Biography}}</ref> and in October 2023 there was a casting call for a new musical entitled ''From Gibson Kente to Mbongeni Ngema'', to celebrate the works and influence of [[Gibson Kente]] and Ngema.<ref>{{cite web | title=Open call: The Playhouse Company auditions in SA | website=Music In Africa | date=19 October 2023 | url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/open-call-playhouse-company-auditions-sa | access-date=31 December 2023}}</ref> Other significant cultural attractions include: * [[Durban Art Gallery]] * [[KZNSA - KwaZulu Natal Society of Arts]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kznia.org.za/durban-city-guide/late-modern/kznsa-gallery|title=KZNSA Gallery {{!}} The KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture|website=www.kznia.org.za|access-date=2019-05-23}}</ref> === Places of worship === Among the [[places of worship]], there are predominantly [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples. These include: [[Zion Christian Church]], [[Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa]], [[Assemblies of God]], [[Baptist Union of Southern Africa]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]), [[Methodist Church of Southern Africa]] ([[World Methodist Council]]), [[Anglican Church of Southern Africa]] ([[Anglican Communion]]), [[Presbyterian Church of Africa]] ([[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]), [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Durban]] ([[Catholic Church]]) and the [[Durban South Africa Temple]] ([[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]).<ref>Britannica, [https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Africa SouthAfrica], britannica.com, US, accessed on 7 July 2019.</ref> There are also [[Mosque|mosques]] and [[Hindu]] temples. === Architecture === From its earlier years to the present, many layers have added to Durban's architectural heritage: [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]], [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian]], [[Islamic architecture|Islamic]], [[Hindu architecture|Hindu]], [[Modern architecture|modernist]], and [[Contemporary architecture|contemporary]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kznia.org.za/buildings-architecture-city-guide-durban-kzn-kwazulu-natal | title=Durban Buildings & Architecture: City Guide | website=SAIA KwaZulu-Natal | access-date=6 April 2024}}</ref> Additionally, and in contrast to the classical styles then prevalent, [[Art Deco in Durban|Art Deco]] found expression in many of Durban's buildings in the 20th century, varying in manner from area to area.<ref>{{cite journal | date=2003 | editor1-last=Peters | editor1-first=Walter | title=Durban's Art Deco Architecture | url=https://www.kznia-journal.org.za/sites/default/files/KZNIA%201-2003%20E.PDF | journal=Journal of the KwaZulu-Natal Institute for Architecture | volume=28 | issue=1 | issn=0379-9301 | access-date=8 April 2024}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page