It’s said that the name “Toronto” has its origins in the Huron First Nation’s word for “meeting place”. Toronto is very much a meeting place - an international crossroads of people from all over the world resulting in an incredible fusion of traditions, old and new, which you’ll find throughout Toronto’s historical neighbourhoods and heritage buildings.
Old Town Toronto is home to St. Lawrence Market, Corktown and the Distillery Historic District, as well as a plethora of boutiques, theatres, galleries and restaurants. Its well-preserved Victorian architecture is home to local arts and stylish restaurants heartily celebrated by visitors and residents alike. The St. Lawrence Market, a lively market that is popular throughout the week and really comes to life on Saturdays as local farmers, artists and artisans ply their wares, sits where the city originated in 1793. Formerly the Gooderham & Worts Distillery, the Distillery Historic District has evolved into a centre for arts, culture and entertainment, embracing a rich historical and architectural legacy. The cobbled streets of this pedestrian-only village houses art galleries, museums, boutiques, artist studios, bistros and cafes and features North America’s best preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture.
Discover Historic Fort York, the site of the 1812 Battle of York and the birthplace of modern Toronto. It is designated as a National Historic site and offers seasonal guided tours as well as musket, drill and music demonstrations.
Formerly a working-class enclave, Cabbagetown is now a delightful cluster of lovely parks, renovated Victorian homes with iron fences and manicured gardens. Parliament, the main street, is not so much quaint as it is eclectic – a hodgepodge of restaurants, cafes and boutiques. In one of Toronto’s oldest neighbourhoods, stories of the city’s evolution lurk around every corner.
