Hungary: Szombathely

  • The Dental Adventure
  • City Center
  • Szombathely Cathedral
  • Around the Town
  • Roman Ruins
  • Local Food
  • Dentist
  • Hotel Ciao Amico

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The Main Plaza in Szombathely

Szombathely (sôm'bŏt-hā') is located in West Hungary, near the Austrian border and about a 1.5 hour drive from Bratislava Slovakia. An important railway junction, it produces leather goods, agricultural machinery, textiles, and shoes and is also a market for local farm products. Szombathely has been an Episcopal see since the 17th cent. and has a women's college. The city was founded in A.D. 48 by the Roman emperor Claudius and called Sabaria.  Szombathely was destroyed (5th cent.) by the Huns but was rebuilt. The city has an 18th-century cathedral, a 17th-century Dominican church, and an Episcopal palace with a museum of antiquities. Ruins of a triumphal arch, an amphitheater, and an aqueduct have been excavated nearby.

The name Szombathely is from Hungarian szombat, "Saturday" and hely, "place", referring to the fact that markets were held on Saturday every week.

The dental adventure

http://www.flyandsmileagency.com/

Many people from the UK, Italy, Germany and Austria go to Hungary and Poland for dental work.  This is due to cheap rates and highly skilled dentists in the area.  It is actually much cheaper to fly to Eastern Europe for dental work then to have it done in the UK.  For example a Procura Crown in the UK can be over 700 GBP while only around 200 GBP (converted) in Hungary.  Many dentists will pay for your flights, hotels, transportation and sightseeing tours while you are visiting.

I decided to give this a try and everything worked our very well.  I flew from London Stansted on Ryanair to Bratislava Slovakia.  I was met at the Bratislava airport by three men (driver, business owner and interpreter).  They drove me 1.5 hours to Szombathely and return, took me to my hotel, let me sample a local drink (Pslinka Liquor - pear flavored) and showed me around the town.

City Center: These photos show most all of the main plaza in the city center.  One can see most all the sites of the city in a half day.
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Szombathely Cathedral: The cathedral was almost completely destroyed in WWII by US and Allied forces, but has since been rebuilt to it's original splendor.
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Around the Town: Various buildings and churches around the city center.
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Roman Ruins: These are the Roman Ruins that have been excavated in the city.  In the second photo, the ancient Roman road can easily be seen.
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Local Food: We had some great food in Hungary.  Some of our favorites were Creamy Garlic Cheese Soup and Deer Goulash with Dumplings.
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Dentist: This is the my dentist's office and sign.
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Hotel Ciao Amico: This is the hotel we stayed at while we were in Szombathely for our dental visit.  The hotel was nice and the staff very friendly.  Next door to the hotel is an Italian restaurant that had delicious pizza and garlic cheese soup served in a fresh baked bread bowl.  The hotel also served one of the best Latte's I have ever had.
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