One of Victoria's original neighbourhoods, Old Town has been painstakingly restored by Victoria citizens and government officials interested in maintaining the integrity of this pretty area with a rich history. Guests who roam Old Town can still find a number of historic buildings and beautiful old shops to peruse. In addition, however, many new retail areas have been added, including pretty Bastion Square, on the site of the old Fort Victoria; Market Square, built in the late 1800s for the "entertainment" of sailors and gold rush prospectors, but now an attractive shopping area; and the posh Bay Centre (formerly the Eaton Centre), fashioned from old Victorian buildings but very much a modern shopping mall.

