London’s Trafalgar Square is one of the world’s most famous plazas. Unfortunately the place was under renovation during my visit in 2005 – the fountains were not working, and the usual crowd probably hanging out elsewhere.
The square was completed in 1840 to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar, a glorious British naval victory against a combined French and Spanish fleet.
At the centre of the square is Nelson’s Column, with a statue of Lord Nelson at the top, in remembrance of the admiral who died of a gunshot wound shortly after leading the British Navy to victory in the Trafalgar battle.
The square used to be a favourite spot for pigeons, with birds’ droppings covering almost every inches in the area. The situation has changed drastically for good after bird feeding was banned from the square in 2003.
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