A walled royal town whose church towers earned it the name "Little Rome"
The walled historic core of Trnava, Slovakia’s oldest royal town and a former seat of the Catholic Church in the Kingdom of Hungary, still defined by the church towers that earned it the nickname "Little Rome".
What to look for during your visit
4 highlightsWalk Trojičné námestie and its 1695 Holy Trinity statue
Climb the 1574 City Tower for views over Trnava's rooftops and spires
See the Gothic-Baroque St. Nicholas Basilica
Visit the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Slovakia's first Baroque church
A place shaped across centuries
Trnava received Slovakia's first royal town charter from King Béla IV in 1238. Its golden age came in the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Archbishop of Esztergom moved his seat here, making Trnava the centre of the Catholic Church in the Kingdom of Hungary while Bratislava served as the kingdom's political capital. The churches and monasteries built during this period, and the walls that still partly encircle the old town, remain the core of Trnava's historic identity today.
What to expect when you arrive
The old town centres on Trojičné námestie, marked by a Baroque Holy Trinity statue from 1695, and the 1574 City Tower, the tallest building in the historic core, open to visitors for views over Trnava's rooftops and spires. The Gothic-Baroque St. Nicholas Basilica and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the first Baroque church built in Slovakia, anchor the town's religious architecture, alongside the Church of St. Helena and a Franciscan monastery.
A closer look
5 photographsPlan your visit
Address
Trojičné námestie, 917 01, Trnava
Best time to visit
The compact, largely indoor core suits a visit in any season. Spring and early autumn bring the most comfortable temperatures for climbing the City Tower.
Getting there
The old town is a short walk from Trnava's train and bus stations, both just outside the historic walls. The whole centre is compact enough to explore entirely on foot.
Accessibility and terrain
The main square and surrounding streets are paved and level; the City Tower's viewing platform is reached by stairs with no lift access.
Combine it with
Continue exploring nearby
Trnava is under an hour from Bratislava by train or bus, making it an easy day trip or a stop en route to western Slovakia.
