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Truro is Cornwall’s first and only city. It has replaced the former county town of Bodmin as Cornwall’s administrative centre, including the county council. However, despite being a city, Truro is not the largest settlement in Cornwall; this accolade goes to St Austell. In terms of location, Truro sits just below the geographical middle of Cornwall. This means that a visit to Truro puts visitors in a convenient position for getting out and fully exploring this southwestern county, which is partly why it has developed in an administrative capacity. St Austell is a thirty-minute drive from Truro. Newquay lies on the coast to the north, with St Ives and Penzance down the coast on the same side. Finally, Falmouth is only 11 miles away. None of these famous destinations are more than a 45-minute drive from Truro.
However, this does not mean that Truro is not worth visiting for its own sake. Originally a Celtic base, it is thought that Truro grew as a port due to its inland riverside location. The Norman period is considered to have been particularly important to this area, as a castle was built here around that time, although the castle has long since disappeared. It became a self-governing Charter town in Elizabethan times, and was for some time a stannary town, that is, a place where the quality of locally mined tin was quantified. Truro did well out of the industrial revolution in terms of mining and other industries. Its Victorian and Georgian architecture dates from this time, as well as its city status and its cathedral, which began construction in the 1880s in the popular Gothic style.
Truro has a pleasantly historic city centre, but its visitor reputation owes much to its status as a shopping area. In true Cornish style, it has a large selection of independent stores, although it has not completely escaped the influx of high street brands. At the same time, there are still plenty of traditional markets, several of which are held in and around Lemon Quay, a huge public square in the city centre. In terms of culture, the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro is widely respected for is artistic and historic exhibitions.
However, this does not mean that Truro is not worth visiting for its own sake. Originally a Celtic base, it is thought that Truro grew as a port due to its inland riverside location. The Norman period is considered to have been particularly important to this area, as a castle was built here around that time, although the castle has long since disappeared. It became a self-governing Charter town in Elizabethan times, and was for some time a stannary town, that is, a place where the quality of locally mined tin was quantified. Truro did well out of the industrial revolution in terms of mining and other industries. Its Victorian and Georgian architecture dates from this time, as well as its city status and its cathedral, which began construction in the 1880s in the popular Gothic style.
Truro has a pleasantly historic city centre, but its visitor reputation owes much to its status as a shopping area. In true Cornish style, it has a large selection of independent stores, although it has not completely escaped the influx of high street brands. At the same time, there are still plenty of traditional markets, several of which are held in and around Lemon Quay, a huge public square in the city centre. In terms of culture, the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro is widely respected for is artistic and historic exhibitions.