Truro, England Tourist Attractions
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In the Middle Ages Truro (6mi/10km northwest of St Mawes; pop. 17,800) was one of the four Cornish 'Stannary' towns where smelted tin was weighed, stamped and taxed. When the separate diocese of Cornwall was created in 1876, it became both the episcopal see and administrative center for the county.The town is dominated by the tall spire of J. L. Pearson's neo Gothic cathedral (1880-1910), around which stand a cluster of Georgian houses.The abundant variety of shops is another notable attraction for visitors to Truro. There are specialty shops as well as a year-round indoor market.
Royal Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery
The Royal Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery has an excellent collection of minerals (including gold finds dating from the Iron Age) as well as pottery, porcelain and furniture, also paintings by John Opie (1761-1807), one of Cornwall's most distinguished portrait painters. Particularly noteworthy is Godfrey Kneller's portrait of the Cornish "giant" Anthony Paine, 7ft 4.25ins/2.24m in height and the tallest soldier in King Charles II's army. Another section is devoted to Cornish wrestling.
Three Spires Festival
This annual two-week festival runs from late June to early July, offering daily events in the Truro Cathedral. Orchestral, chamber and organ concerts combine with dance and theatrical performances, as well as film screenings and exhibitions, to form a diverse festival. The repertoire is equally varied and includes both classical and contemporary works. Other venues often used for the festival include the Princess Pavilion, Falmouth City Hall and the Cornwall Royal Institute.
