Because of the many churches in the town, Trnava is often called the "Slovak Rome". In the past, it was an important center of counter-reformation in Hungary and Slovakia (17th century), of the Slovak national revival (late 18th century) and seat of the important (Jesuit) Trnava University (1635-1777, founded by the archbishop Peter P?m?y). The town has a historic center. The first codified Slovak language standard (by Anton Bernol? in 1787) was based on the Slovak dialect used in the region of Trnava. With the establishment of a separate Trnava archbishopric in 1978, Slovakia became independent on Hungary again also in terms of church administration for the first time after centuries.
The construction of a big factory of the French car manufacturer PSA was started in Trnava in 2003.
See also: Slovakia, History of Slovakia