Gamla Stan in Stockholm
written by katykate
on May 9th, 2008
(2 votes)
A couple of weeks ago I went to Stockholm. It was freezing cold, but very charming. I fell immediately in love with the heart of Stockholm, Gamla Stan. The name derives from the term “gamla staden”, which literally means Old Town. On the maps and in the literature from the mid 19th century, however, it was being called “staden mellan broarna” (“the city between the bridges”) or staden inom broarna (“the city within the bridges”). This is not surprising, since the city of Stockholm was built on islands and Gamla Stan is the oldest and central part of the settlements.
As you walk around the quarter you see old, colourful buildings – the styles mix medieval parts with baroque and rococo – and cosy, narrow streets. People, cafés, stores everywhere. This buzz of activity makes you imagine how living in the Middle Ages might have been. Sights of Gamla Stan include the Royal Castle (with its Royal Guards in front of it), Tyska Kyrkan, the church of the early German settlers and Stortorget, a beautiful square with especially colourful buildings.
Gamla Stan is a great place to take pictures, but also a cool spot to hang out. Get a hot chocolate and one of these great Swedish pastries and absorb the charm of its medieval and Renaissance architecture!
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