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The city is located by the streams Perint and Gyöngyös, where the Alpokalja (Lower Alps) mountains meet the Little Hungarian Plain. The city has 90.000 inhabitants today. In 43 A.D. Claudius Caesar founded Colonia Claudia Savaria at a crossroad next to the important trade route, the Amber Road. Emperor Constantine the Great made Savaria the capital of the province Pannonia Prima. This era was the height of prosperation for Savaria, its population grew, new buildings were erected, among them theatres and churches. Many archaeological remains of the Roman past can still be seen in the city's Lapidarium and the Iseum. About 200 years ago the city became one of the most important centres of spiritual life, culture and Hungarian Baroque architecture due to the far-reaching plans and city-founding activities of János Szily, the city's first bishop. The Catedral, the Episcopal Palace, the former Liceum and the Papal Seminary form one of Hungary's most beautiful Baroque architectural complexes. Szombathely today is the cultural and economic centre of a region extending across several borders. On the initiative of Szombathely's citizens, an art gallery was built which houses outstanding works of modern Hungarian fine art. Bartók Hall, formerly a Synagogue, is the venue of most of the musical events, including numerous concerts of the Bartók Festival, and it is also the home of the Savaria Symphonic Orchestra, which has been a professional orchestra for a quarter of a century.
Website of the municipality:
http://www.szombathely.hu
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