Savaria or Szombathely today was founded by the divine emperor, Claudius in 43 BC as one of the Northern outposts of the empire. The town prides in, is well aware of, its traditions and consciously keeps them alive. Relics are appreciated, sites of ancient pomp have been laboriously unconcealed and memories of long forgotten times have been carefully collected.

Iseum, the largest sanctuary of the Egyptian Isis-cult found in the Pannonian territory is among the most precious prides of the town. Amber route (Borostyánkőút) the famous trade route connecting the Baltic sea with the Roman Empire lead across Savaria. The once perfectly fitting saddle-shape pavement mosaics can still be admired. The largest Transdanubian museum Savaria Museum owns a significant coliection of relics from Roman ages. The remains of the forum in the ancient city are exhibited in the Garden of Ruins. The Savaria Museum displays fragments of the largest contiguous mosaic of the procurator's palace (and in the whole of Pannonia), the foundation walls of the 9th-century fortress (built from Roman stones), a 50-m section of the 2,000-year-old Amber road as well as archaeological findings from the shrine of Mercury, the public baths and the customs house.

At the end of the 18th century Szombathely was appointed bishopric see and Baroque slowly prevailed. Evidence of this time are the bishopric palace, the seminary and the monumental cathedral, one of Hungary's largest Baroque churches. The old synagogue functions today as Bartók Béla music school and music hall. The construction of the twin-spired Episcopal cathedral, Hungary's largest Baroque church, commenced in 1791; its vast interior is adorned with works including frescoes, paintings and statues of renowned artists of the age. Sala Terrena, the ceremonial hall of the rococo Episcopal palace, is one of the country's finest Baroque halls. The Diocesan Museum is worth visiting for its splendid collection of ecclesiastical art. The Dorfmeister Hall in the Diocesan Library and Archive displays the works of the famous painter. The Gothic parish church of St. Elisabeth is famous for its fine Baroque doors. Next to the church is the former Franciscan monastery. The former Dominican parish church of St. Martin, with Gothic frescoes in its sanctuary, was named after St. Martin of Tours, native of the city.