Gamla Stan in Stockholm

 

 

 

Gamla Stan is one of the 14 islands that Stockholm is built on and one of the world's best-preserved medieval city centres.

 

 

 

 

 

Before Stockholm sprawled out to neighbouring islands the whole city was once limited to this small island, referred to historically 'as the city between the bridges'.

 

 

 

 



 

The island city grew into a mess of winding streets and ramshackle houses until most of the western half burned down in 1625.

 

 

 

 

 

Meandering alleys lined with crooked buildings can be found here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

some of which are extremely narrow

 

 

 

 

 

as well as imposing architecture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

lots of craft and tourist shops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

and lots of cafes where Swedes indulge in fika, a ritual of afternoon coffee and cake, an important aspect of social and cultural life.

 

 

 

 

 

There are sculptures in the squares

 

 

 

 

this one is Jarntorget where we sat for afternoon tea

 

 

 



 

or by the metro station.

 

 

There are churches

including the Cathedral

Arched alleyways are to be found everywhere

 

 

We were intrigued by three consecutive ones

 



 

 

that led to 

 

 

 

this gorgeous courtyard, Brantingtorget

with a dramatic fountain in the middle

 

 

 

The Palace, Kungliga Slottet, is here

 

 

with the Hogvakten, the Royal Guards

 

 



 

 

and where we happened to witness the changing of the guards.

 

 

A game of boules was going on in a nearby square.

 

 

 



 

We walked all around the small island, reached the north end where we could see the district of Norrmalm across the water

 

 

and ended up in Jarntorget, that was buzzing with people sitting in the outdoor cafes

 

 



we were lucky to find a table here, Café Nova

 

 

 



 

the water pump was next to us.

 

 

We were intrigued by these which are to be found all over the city and which cover the windows of any building that is in the process of being renovated - a very clever idea, we thought.

We then crossed the Norbro bridge that had been taken over by the Gumbo 3,000 event

but which still afforded great views

 

we could not see much of the Opera House as it was hidden by the huge stage that had been set up.






We walked to Nybro where we took the ferry

and then another ferry that took us back to Slussen, the bridge that connects Gamla Stan and Sodermalm which is where we were staying

This was our first sighting of the open views that this city affords

and which make it such a wonderful place to be.