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Belfast City Hall is a major landmark in the city of Belfast. It serves as the town hall for the city of and boasts a history and architecture as fascinating as it is inescapable. Located in Donegal Square, it’s one of Belfast’s must-see landmarks, separating the commercial districts from the city’s central business district!
The City Hall was built in 1898, at the behest of Queen Victoria, who wished to reward the city for its dynamic string production and engineering boom. City Hall was designed by architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas and christened under his strict supervision. It’s worth pointing out that the construction site was extremely extensive, costing in excess of £369,000 to build.
The latter was finally completed in 1906, when the first civil servants and other administrative staff took possession of the new town hall’s offices.
Belfast city hall – © William
City Hall is downright impossible to miss: its imposing, particularly busy architecture makes it an eye-catching, curiosity-inducing monument! Victorian and neo-baroque in style, City Hall covers more than a hectare and a half in Belfast city center!
Structurally, City Hall features an enclosed courtyard, towers at each corner, and a copper-coated central dome that gives the building its distinctive green hue. The walls are made of Portland stone. The main pediment is said to have been sculpted by FW Pomeroy, and has all the neo-Baroque features you’d expect: the carvings are extremely fine, although it can be criticized for being too busy.
The monument also boasts magnificent tree-lined gardens, a delight for office workers and students alike, who tend to picnic on the City Hall lawn in summer.
Several statues line the park, including one of Queen Victoria, as well as a statue of Thane, a tribute to the sinking of the Titanic, a liner built in Belfast itself.
Essential information to help you plan your visit, including key landmarks, access information, and booking options.
Donegall Square N, Belfast (County Antrim) - Northern Ireland
54.596723, -5.930082
45 minutes
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