The jagged peninsula of Cornwall (Cornwall), in England (Great Britain) the extreme southwestern tip of England, all stretched out towards the Atlantic, is a kind of microcosm swept by the wind, the sea, and the salt air.
Cornwall Guide, Tourist Information
La Cornwall is a surfer’s paradise; a place full of memories linked to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Must-see spots include the evocative ruins of Tintagel Castle, where legend claims the Kingdom of Camelot was born, although, in reality, the fortress dates back to the 12th century, much later than the deeds of the mythical ruler.
What to see and do in Cornwall
Another place with an enigmatic charm is the megaliths of Lanyon Quoit, near Penzance, where ancient dolmens watch over a territory with ever-changing atmospheres. And the Lizard Peninsula, with the protrusion of Land’s End, which dramatically marks the end of the land and the absolute dominance of the sea. Small characterful villages include Portloe, Polkerries, Bostcastle, Polperro, all served by tiny docks, with houses made of gray stone or whitewashed lime and slate roofs spotted with moss. These houses also hosted sailors and smugglers who became legendary thanks to the stories by Daphne du Maurier. Not to be missed is the Marconi Column, on the promontory of Poldhu Point, along the western coast of the Lizard Peninsula, where, in 1901, an associate of the scientist sent the first radio message across the Atlantic, received in Newfoundland, some two thousand miles of ocean farther west, by Marconi himself.
Truro
Truro is the administrative capital of Cornwall. An ancient port and market town, Truro is characterized by a particular Georgian architecture dating back to the most important period of the tin mines. You should visit the majestic cathedral which resembles St Paul’s in London. Here you find the Royal Cornwall Museum with different sections dedicated to Methodism, archaeology, and smuggling, which for some time represented an important source of income in Cornwall.
Penzance
Penzance is a seaside resort in Cornwall. Characterized by wide sandy beaches, it hosts the Morrab Gardens where subtropical plants thrive. Opposite Penzance is the island of St Michael’s Mount. Near Penzance is Newlyn, the largest fishing port in all of Cornwall. Here the art school was founded with painters who painted outdoors by Stanhope Forbes in the second half of the 19th century. Also nearby Penzance is the charming fishing village of Mousehole, with narrow streets and picturesque cottages. From Penzance, ferries depart to visit the Scilly Isles archipelago.
St Michael’s Mount
St Michael’s Mount is located off Mount Bay, opposite the village of Marazion from which ferries depart to visit the island. With due differences, it resembles the Mont Saint-Michel of Normandy and both islands are dedicated to Saint Michael, the archangel whom legend says appeared in 495. Here the Benedictines settled and built an abbey which in the 17th century gave way to a residence by decree of the descendants of the purchaser Sir John Aubyn.
Falmouth
Falmouth is located at the confluence of as many as seven rivers that form a river valley. The depth of the river waters allows some transatlantic ships to reach as far as Truro. Picturesque are the port and the buildings overlooking it. Here is the famous chimney (King’s Pipe) where tobacco seized from smugglers was burned. Henry VIII built the Pendennis Castle and St Mawes Castle here.
Scilly Isles
Off the western tip of the United Kingdom, under the administration of Cornwall, are the Scilly Isles, also known as the Sorling Isles. Only 6 of the 58 islands in the archipelago are inhabited and the population lives exclusively from tourism. The largest of the islands is St. Mary’s (1,666 inhabitants) while the smallest is Gugh with only 3 inhabitants. In between are, in order of population, Tresco, St. Martin’s, Bryher and St. Agnes.
