Belfast, Ireland: Years of sectarian violence between Protestants and Catholics motivated the construction of “Peace Lines,” or walls which divide local, rival communities. Built in the 1970’s, each wall has but one gate, which is attended by police guards who supervise the traffic between the two communities. At night the gates are locked. Recently, Belfast has seen a surge in tourist interest, much of which is centered on the ongoing conflict, and taxis and tour busses ferry interested onlookers around the city’s more than 40 separation barriers.
