Cork stretches along the banks of the Lee river, in the middle of a marshy area, where, in 650 AD, Saint Finbarr founded an important monastery of Ireland.
One of the peculiarities of Cork is precisely that it is built on water: the city center is located on an island between the two branches of the river and many of today’s streets were once canals lined with warehouses and merchants’ houses. Following their filling, the city changed its appearance, but still maintains picturesque quays and characteristic bridges. The steep alleys branching from the central island to the outskirts offer enchanting views.
What to see in Cork
Not to be missed is St. Ann’s Shandon, the cathedral, which rises in an elevated position, north of the Lee river; built in 1722, it is characterized by two sides made of sandstone and two of limestone. On the belfry stands a curious weather vane shaped like a salmon; while the clock is playfully called “the four-faced liar” because until 1986, when it was repaired, the faces placed on each of the four sides showed a different time. A few meters from the cathedral rises the Butter Exchange, a 1770 building that was the center for butter price quotations.
The English navy also supplied here. Part of it today houses the Shandon Craft Centre, where you can admire a revival of ancient crafts. The city’s main art museum is housed in the eighteenth-century Crawford Art Gallery, a brick and limestone building that holds works by Irish masters from the 19th and 20th centuries, including some stained glass by Harry Clarke, and a small collection of British and international artists, including Miró and Rouault.
Other must-sees in Cork are St. Finbarr’s Cathedral, dedicated to the founder and patron saint of Cork, a striking neo-Gothic building with pinnacles and stone tracery.
The Grand Parade and St. Patrick’s Street, lively central arteries where you find the majestic National Monument, in memory of Ireland’s fallen between 1798 and 1867, the Bishop Lucey Park, which preserves parts of the city walls and the ancient grain market, the seventeenth-century English Market, a covered fruit and vegetable market.
Also not to be missed is Paul Street, famous for traditional restaurants, elegant cafes, bookstores, and trendy shops. A camper trip or a coastal drive along Ireland’s sea is recommended, stopping to sleep in a castle among unusual places. We have created, in this regard, a one-week itinerary in Ireland or a two-week itinerary in the Emerald Isle.
