310 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp328–9 and pp330–31

chapter build ings. Among

these is the Archbishop’s

Palace (Arcibiskupský palác),

built by the Italian masters

Pietro and Antonio Spazzi

in 1562. During the 16th and

17th centuries, this

Renaissance edifice was the

seat of the Hungarian pri-

mates, whose residence in

Esztergom had been appro-

priated by the Ottomans. It

was also the head quarters of

the Church of Hungary at the

height of the Ottoman threat.

The archbishops went back to

Esztergom in 1820, but a

Slovak archbishopric was

re-established here in 1990.

E Music Museum

M S Trnavského 5. Tel (033) 551

4421. 
      

      9am–5pm Tue–Fri,

      
      

      11am–5pm Sat & Sun. &
      The Music Museum (Dom
      hudby) occupies a building
      called Dom hudby, which
      used to be the home of one
      of Trnava’s most famous citi-
      zens – the composer Mikulas
      Schneider Trnavský (1881–
      1958). It dis plays objects and
      mementos asso ciated with
      the musician and serves as
      a concert venue.

      
      

u Synagogue

Halenárska 2. Tel (033) 551 4657.

# 10am–noon, 1–5pm Tue–Fri,

1–6pm Sat & Sun. & http://www.snm.sk

This imposing edifice in

Byzantine-Moorish style was

built in the 19th century to a

design by Viennese architect

Jakub Gartner. Today, it

present shape after a fire in

1676. They are still not iden-
      tical; the southern tower is
      slightly nar rower. Inside,
      the main attrac tion is the
      octagonal chapel of the
      Virgin Mary, added in
      1741 to the left aisle of
      the church. It con-
      tains the miraculous
      picture of the Trnava
      Madonna, which is
      particularly revered
      in Slovakia. The
      gilded Renaissance-
      Baroque main altar-
      piece dates from 1639.
      Built into the side walls
      of the chapels are a
      num ber of interest-
      ing Renaissance
      and Baroque
      tombstones.

P St Nicholas’s Square

This spindle-shaped square

(námestie šv Mikuláša) by

the old city walls was the

focus of the town in the

Middle Ages. At its centre is

the 1731 Baroque column of

St Joseph, surrounded by

P Holy Trinity Square
The town’s main square,
Trojičné námestie, sports
the lofty Municipal Tower
dating from 1574, with
a viewing gallery and a
cupola crowned with
a golden statue of Our
Lady. There is also
an 18th-century
Plague Column.
Close by is the
1831 Municipal
Theatre (Trnavské
divadlo), the oldest
theatre building in
Slovakia. Just north of
the square, the Holy
Trinity Church (now
known as Jesuitský
kostol in Slovakian)
was built in the
early 18th cen tury
by the Trinitarian monks. It
has been used by the Jesuits
since 1853. To the west of the
square is the single-towered
Church of St Jacob (šv Jakub),
built in 1640 and given a
Baroque remodelling in 1712.

R Cathedral of St John
the Baptist
See pp312–13.

R Church of St Nicholas
Námestie sv Mikulaša. 5
The twin towers of the
Church of St Nicholas
(šv Mikuláš), with their
distinct ive bell-shaped cupolas,
are one of Trnava’s chief land-
marks. The church, dedicated
to the patron saint of mer-
chants, was built in the 11th
century. The original structure
was demolished in the 14th
century to make way for the
new Gothic church built
between 1380 and 1421. Its
outside walls are supported
by mighty but tresses, par tic-
ularly imposing in the presby-
tery. The towers, initially of
unequal size, were given their

One of Slovakia’s oldest towns, Trnava was granted town
privileges in 1238. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was
the seat of the Hungarian primate and the head quarters
of the Church of Hungary. Known as the “Slovak Rome”,
the town acquired numerous churches and monasteries.
The historic town centre is enclosed with in old walls,
forming an almost complete square. The main Holy
Trinity Square is at its heart. The chief attrac tion of the
town are its religious buildings and relaxed ambience.

Trnava 2

Baroque column of St Joseph,

St Nicholas’s Square

The twin towers of Church of

St Nicholas’s

Plague Column, Holy

Trinity Square