Philadelphia, Western Cape

Philadelphia is a town in the City of Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, about 33 km south-west of Malmesbury. Developed from a parish of the Dutch Reformed Church established in 1863, the name is of biblical origin (Rev. 3:7-13) and means "brotherly love".

Philadelphia lies just 20 minutes outside of Cape Town, past Durbanville. Rural Philadelphia is just off the N7 towards Malmesbury. You can take a scenic drive along the Koeberg / Adderley Road from Durbanville through farmland until you reach this gorgeous village.

Philadelphia began, as many little towns in South Africa do, as a farm. Local farmers travelled all the way, by horse and cart, to Durbanville for Nagmaal (the Eucharist) and, as a result, a local farmer donated a portion of his land to the local brethren to build a church. This is possibly why Philadelphia, meaning "love of brothers", is named such.

The pretty, little historical town is a perfect weekend breakaway. Dominating the town is the large NG church, but just below this are a series of little streets with a couple of shops and the Pepper Tree Art Stable and Coffee Shop that serves as a natural hub for both locals and visitors to the town.

Expect to see pretty period homes, interspersed with a couple of low-key Cape cottages, people milling around town, and the more recent De Malle Meul, a modern rendition of the Pepper Tree art space, also with its own pottery, and a popular wedding venue.