Cathedral Square, Christchurch

The traditional heart of Christchurch, this central plaza is dominated by the earthquake-damaged Anglican cathedral that gave the city its name and is undergoing lengthy reinstatement. Around the square stand heritage buildings, the tall Chalice sculpture marking the millennium, and cafes and shops that have returned as the centre rebuilds. Historically the focus of civic life and public gatherings, the square is being reshaped as part of the wider recovery. It remains a symbolic centre of the rebuilding city.