Historically a center of the cloth industry, Salisbury is the county town of Wiltshire. The town is situated at the point where the Rivers Nadder and Bourne flow into the Avon and is famous for its cathedral, a masterpiece of the early Gothic style.
Salisbury dates back to 1220 when the foundation stone
was laid for the cathedral, which had been moved here from its previous site at Old Sarum. The checkerboard layout of the town, with enclosed gardens between the houses, was a model for medieval town planning. On receiving market privileges from the king, the bishop built a bridge across the Avon in 1244, thereby creating the right conditions for the town to become a major trading center, having no less than four market places during the Middle Ages. The town was not, however, granted the privilege of self-government; although the various guilds in the town formed a council, Salisbury was under the jurisdiction of the bishop and the town was not allowed its own higher authority until 1611.
Salisbury holds an annual International Arts Festival from late May through to early June featuring dance, music, street performances and art exhibitions.
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