Szombathely
Residents of Savaria, founded in 43 A.D., enjoyed the same rights as citizens of Ancient Rome. They built a splendid city from the proceeds of the Amber road which passed through. The old splendour and glory of the city can be imagined from discoveries made during archaeological excavations and also from the Savaria Historical Carnival held every summer.
The remains of the forum in the ancient city are exhibited in the Garden of Ruins (1-3 Templom tér). The Savaria Museum (9 Kisfaludy Sándor utca) displays fragments of the largest contiguous mosaic of the procurator's palace (and in the whole of Pannonia), the foundation walls of the 9th-century fortress (built from Roman stones), a 50-m section of the 2,000-year-old Amber road as well as archaeological findings from the shrine of Mercury, the public baths and the customs house. The 2nd-century Isis shrine in the Iseum garden of ruins (1 Rákóczi utca) is also the setting for the Iseum Summer Open-Air Festival. The construction of the twin-spired Episcopal cathedral (Templom tér), Hungary's largest Baroque church, commenced in 1791; its vast interior is adorned with works including frescoes, paintings and statues of renowned artists of the age. Sala Terrena, the ceremonial hall of the rococo Episcopal palace (3 Berzsenyi tér), is one of the country's finest Baroque halls. The Diocesan Museum is worth visiting for its splendid collection of ecclesiastical art. The Dorfmeister Hall in the Diocesan Library and Archive (1 Szily János utca) displays the works of the famous painter. The Gothic parish church of St. Elisabeth (1 Aréna utca) is famous for its fine Baroque doors. Next to the church is the former Franciscan monastery. The former Dominican parish church of St. Martin, with Gothic frescoes in its sanctuary, was named after St. Martin of Tours, native of the city. To preserve some characteristic examples of folk architecture, 37 buildings from 27 villages have been relocated in the Village Museum of Vas County (30 Árpád utca) set up in a natural environment of lakes ideal for boating and fishing. The Kámon Arboretum (7 Szent Imre herceg utca) is the country's largest arboretum, its highlights being 50 different species of rhododendron which make a sea of blossoms in May.
