Gamla
Stan (Old Town) Stockholm
STOCKHOLM: VENICE OF THE NORTH
by
Bruce Burnett
There's
no better hub for exploring Scandinavia than the beautiful "Venice
of the North," Sweden's capital, Stockholm.
From the cultured capital to the wild mountainous north, Sweden holds
fascination for the arts and history buff and the fan of outdoors' activities
alike.
The country's mountains begin in Dalarna with gentle slopes that build
up to a 1,900-kilometer (1,140 miles) chain culminating in the magnificent
snow-covered peaks of the far north. The Lapps who live here off fishing
and reindeer herding have done an admirable job of retaining their distinctive
culture.
But, unlike North America, in Sweden you don't have to go to the remote
north to encounter fresh air and pure water.
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Here salmon and sea trout are caught on their migration from the Baltic
to Lake Malaren. Among the more humble species to be hooked are perch,
pike, zander and Baltic herring.
The city of Stockholm was founded in the 13th-century on an island where
Lake Malaren flows out into the Baltic. As time passed the inhabitants
spread out across the neighboring islands and mainland to the north and
south. The current population of greater Stockholm is 1.7 million, with
about 700,000 living within the city limits.
Stockholm is beautifully situated on 14 islands separated by wide bays,
broad channels and narrow waterways. Surrounded by unspoiled countryside,
the city is also peppered with lovely parks. In the heart of the capital
the contrast between old and new is striking: an ultra modern city center
adjacent to the cobbled alleys and medieval buildings of Gamla Stan
(Old Town).
Visitors to Stockholm are strongly recommended to purchase a Stockholm
Card. The card gives you free entry to 75 museums and attractions, free
travel by public transport, free sightseeing by boat as well as several
other bonus offers. You decide whether you want a card that is valid for
24, 48 or 72 hours. The card will not be valid until it is stamped with
the time and date the first time you use it. Two child cards can be purchased
per adult card. The card is valid once per attraction and entitles you
to unlimited travel by metro, bus and commuter train.
Stockholm's Viking heritage may be enjoyed by taking a boat trip to see
the remains of the old capital at Birka and the 1,000-year-old town of
Sigtuna.
Medieval Stockholm can be experienced by visiting the Medieval Museum
or by merely strolling through Gamla Stan, where many of the churches
and other buildings date back 800 years or more.
The Swedish royal family is very popular with the people. The Royal Palace
in Stockholm is the largest in Europe still in use and the royal family
lives in the 18th-century palace at Drottningholm with its world famous
theatre.
Stockholm is also a city of the sea, located as it is on the edge of the
world's largest archipelago of more than 25,000 islands. Take a lazy cruise
on one of the seven genuine steamers still in use. In service for a century,
these old character ships have been beautifully restored to maintain their
Edwardian ambience. Cruises go to the medieval castle at Gripholm, the
little fortress town of Vaxholm and to royal Drottningholm. All the steamers
boast first class restaurants in which you can enjoy lunch or dinner.
Water is a dominant element in the life of Swedes. In Stockholm, the "Venice
of the North," water adds immeasurably to the charm of this already
captivating city. As Sweden's international tennis champion, Bjorn Borg
puts it: "Sweden is surrounded by water and even away from the coast
our lakes and rivers are the dominant feature of the landscape. I live
outside Stockholm and some days I take my boat into the city when I have
a business appointment. I get a tremendous kick out of that. Who wouldn't?"
Who indeed!
STOCKHOLM:
VENICE OF THE NORTH
was first published by The Adelaide Advertiser (Australia)
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