Johannesburg, South Africa: Nelson Mandela Square

It must have seemed like an overwhelming concept. How should the city of Johannesburg honor Nelson Mandela, the modern equivalent in South Africa to out George Washington? Mandela was the key figure in the fight to end apartheid, and deserved something special. 

It's fair to say that Johannesburg came through. Nelson Mandela Square is located in the middle of the Sandton district, and it's a powerful statement. Mandela received the statue treatment, a 19-footer at one end of the square. You can see him looking over the area and the country in the bottom left. The statue is surrounded by other pieces of artwork, while the square has such outlets as restaurants and the visitors center.  

Even better, it is attached to one of the biggest shopping centers in all of Africa. The designer stores are out in force there, as they are part of the more than 400 merchants in the area. You could spend a couple of days there and not get bored (happily, a hotel is located in the complex so you can get a little rest). This area was renamed for Mandela in 2004 after a 1994 opening. Some argued that maybe this was a little too high-brow of a spot to honor a populist leader. Organizers through it represented a success story for the country, part of an optimistic approach to development. You're on your own here.