Salisbury. The history of the city

Salisbury, below the Wiltshire plain, looks much the same from a distance as it did when Constable painted his famous picture of the city from the picturesque lawns opposite.

The history of the city is quite interesting. It was originally located on a hill, but after a while Salisbury "descended" into the plains. The local diocese did not want to put up with the proximity of the pagan settlement of Old Sarum, an ancient Iron Age fort inhabited by the Romans and their heirs.

There is a legend about how the Bishop of Pur, who led the move to the plain in 1219, chose the site for the future temple. Allegedly, he ordered to shoot an arrow from the heights of Old Sarum and notice the place where it fell. It was here that Salisbury Cathedral was built - one of the main attractions of the city.

Less than twenty kilometers from Salisbury is Stonehenge. This most famous prehistoric monument needs no introduction. The circle of massive stones, each up to four meters high, was created about 5,000 years ago. Scientists have found that the largest blue stones of the outer ring were mined in the Prezeli hills, and then somehow transported to this island.Stonehenge is shrouded in many mysteries and is the most mysterious and famous monument in the UK.

In the suburb of Salisbury is Wilton House, the home of the 18th Earl of Pembroke.This country house was originally an abbey, but after the destruction of the monasteries in the XVI century, it became a majestic mansion.The interior of the estate is a real treasure trove. Here you can see the works of van Dyck, Rembrandt, del Sarto, Brueghel and many other famous masters.