TRAVEL STOCKHOLM
GENERAL INFORMATION-AStockholm is the largest city and capitol of Sweden. It is the home of 22% of Sweden’s population .The city was founded in 1250.It is on 14 islands and the Stockholm archipelago is connected by 50 bridges on Lake Malaren which flows into the Baltic Sea .The city is known for beauty, buildings and architecture, and is very clean and with many parks .Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways and another 30% is made up of green spaces. It is the Sweden’s cultural, media, political and economic centre.
INNER CITY-i-Norrmalam-It is the commercial district; good for shopping .The Central Railway Station and T-Centralen Metro hub are located in the south known as city. The pedestrian street Drottninggatan runs here by a square Sergels Torg.
ii-Ostermalm- It has Nationalstadsparken .The Skansen (open air museum),the Grona Lund Amusement Park and Vasa Museum are situated.
iii-Gamla Stan-An island with great waterfront views, here are Royal Palace and Riksdag (Swedish Parliament).
iv-Sodermalm
v-Kungsholmen- Here is Stockholm City Hall stands by water.
The old Stockholm was located on Helgeandsholmen which grew up during the 13th century. According to chronicle Stockholm was founded by Birger Jarl in 1252. It was named Stockholm, to the town in between the bridges. In 1471, the Danish King, Christian I, besieged Stockholm while attempting to quell the rebellious Sten Sture, but his 5000-strong army was routed by the Swedes just outside the city walls at the Battle of Brunkeberg (the fighting took place between what is now Vasagatan, Kungsgatan and Sergels Torg). A rebellion Gustav Vasa finally entered the city in 1523, after a two-year siege. At the end of the 16th century Stockholm's population was 9000, but this expanded in the following century to 60, 000, as the Swedish empire reached its greatest extent. In the 17th century, town planners laid out a street grid beyond the medieval city centre, and Stockholm was proclaimed the capital of Sweden in 1634. After the death of King Karl XII, the country, stagnated. In the 18th century, Swedish science and arts blossomed, allowing the creation of institutions and fine buildings. Another period of stagnation followed the assassination of King Gustav III. From the 1860s, further town planning created many of the wide avenues and apartment blocks still seen today. The city rapidly industrialized and expanded. In 1912, the Olympic Games were held in Stockholm and by 1915 it was home to 3,64,000 people .The next major transformation of the city started in the 1960s, when large 'new towns' sprung up around the outskirts, and extensive 'slum' areas were flattened to make way for concrete office blocks, motorways and other modern developments. The financial and construction boom of the 1980s helped make the city a very expensive place. When that bubble burst due to the 1990s recession, the devalued Krona actually helped Stockholm. Swedish tourism grew, and foreign tourists arrived in ever-increasing numbers.
INNER CITY-i-Norrmalam-It is the commercial district; good for shopping .The Central Railway Station and T-Centralen Metro hub are located in the south known as city. The pedestrian street Drottninggatan runs here by a square Sergels Torg.
ii-Ostermalm- It has Nationalstadsparken .The Skansen (open air museum),the Grona Lund Amusement Park and Vasa Museum are situated.
iii-Gamla Stan-An island with great waterfront views, here are Royal Palace and Riksdag (Swedish Parliament).
iv-Sodermalm
v-Kungsholmen- Here is Stockholm City Hall stands by water.
The old Stockholm was located on Helgeandsholmen which grew up during the 13th century. According to chronicle Stockholm was founded by Birger Jarl in 1252. It was named Stockholm, to the town in between the bridges. In 1471, the Danish King, Christian I, besieged Stockholm while attempting to quell the rebellious Sten Sture, but his 5000-strong army was routed by the Swedes just outside the city walls at the Battle of Brunkeberg (the fighting took place between what is now Vasagatan, Kungsgatan and Sergels Torg). A rebellion Gustav Vasa finally entered the city in 1523, after a two-year siege. At the end of the 16th century Stockholm's population was 9000, but this expanded in the following century to 60, 000, as the Swedish empire reached its greatest extent. In the 17th century, town planners laid out a street grid beyond the medieval city centre, and Stockholm was proclaimed the capital of Sweden in 1634. After the death of King Karl XII, the country, stagnated. In the 18th century, Swedish science and arts blossomed, allowing the creation of institutions and fine buildings. Another period of stagnation followed the assassination of King Gustav III. From the 1860s, further town planning created many of the wide avenues and apartment blocks still seen today. The city rapidly industrialized and expanded. In 1912, the Olympic Games were held in Stockholm and by 1915 it was home to 3,64,000 people .The next major transformation of the city started in the 1960s, when large 'new towns' sprung up around the outskirts, and extensive 'slum' areas were flattened to make way for concrete office blocks, motorways and other modern developments. The financial and construction boom of the 1980s helped make the city a very expensive place. When that bubble burst due to the 1990s recession, the devalued Krona actually helped Stockholm. Swedish tourism grew, and foreign tourists arrived in ever-increasing numbers.
GEOGRAPHY-Stockholm is located on Sweden's south-central east coast, where the freshwater Lake Mälaren which is the Sweden's third largest lake flows out into the Baltic Sea. The central parts of the city consist of fourteen islands that are continuous with the Stockholm archipelago. The geographical city centre is situated on the water, in Riddarfjärden bay. Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways and another 30% is made up of parks and green spaces.
AREA - 188Km2(city)
POPULATION- 9,15,000 (city)
CO-ORDINATES- 590 19’46”N 180 47’’E
TIME ZONE- UTC+1 and summer UTC+2
CLIMATE-The temperature of the city is as follows-
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
HIGH0C -1 -1 3 9 16 21 22 20 15 10 4 1
LOW0C -5 -5 -3 1 6 11 13 13 9 5 1 -3
POPULATION- 9,15,000 (city)
CO-ORDINATES- 590 19’46”N 180 47’’E
TIME ZONE- UTC+1 and summer UTC+2
CLIMATE-The temperature of the city is as follows-
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
HIGH0C -1 -1 3 9 16 21 22 20 15 10 4 1
LOW0C -5 -5 -3 1 6 11 13 13 9 5 1 -3
AIRPORT- The International and Domestic Airport of Stockholm is Arlanda Airport (ARN) and is the busiest airport in Sweden and 18 million passenger’s passes through it. It is 40 Kms north from Stockholm and serves as Scandinavian Airlines. The Arlanda Express is the fastest way to go to Stockholm and back. It only takes 20 minutes from airport to central station and departs every 15 minutes. There are two stations at airport- Arlanda Sorda (south) with access to Terminals 2, 3, 4 and Arlanda Norra (north) for terminal 5.This leaves from lower levels of each terminals. Flygbussarna-It is an airport bus services run from all four airports and easiest way to City terminal in downtown Stockholm
OTHER INFORMATION-
ECONOMY-Sweden is an export-oriented mixed economy .Timber, Hydropower and iron ore are the resources base economy .The big companies are-Volvo-Ericsson-Skansa-Sony Ericsson-Electrolux-Sandvik-IKEA-SKF.
SCIENCE-Alfred Nobel invented dynamite and instituted the Nobel Prize. Lars Magnus Ericsson started the company and still one of the largest telecom companies in the world. Nikola Tesla is one of the inventors of the three-phase electrical system .Tetra Pack was an invention for storing liquid foods by Erik Wallenberg.
VIKINGS-It is simply a world for old sailor/navigator/pirates/tradesmen. Some men joined expeditions of trade, exploration and piracy, reaching as far as present day-Canada, Morocco. Viking age artefacts can be seen in The Museum of Antiques in Stockholm .A horned helmet was made to romanticize the Viking Age.
RELIGION-After the Protestant Reformation in the 1530,a change led by Martin Luther’s Swedish associate and Roman Catholic Church was abolished and Lutherian to prevail.
AURORA SKY STATION-Swedish Lapland is the far northwest corner of Sweden is vast area of arctic plains, forests, mountains, glaciers, lakes and rivers. Northern lights are charged particles discharged by sun to reach earth’s atmosphere on solar winds and collide with gaseous Particles in the Earth’s atmosphere, and this is because the proximity to magnetic field of north pole. Abisko is a 77km2 National Park in Swedish Lapland famous for its natural beauty, Nordic wildlife and is a spot for winter adventures and summer hiking in the midnight sun. Aurora Sky Station is one of the best spots in the world for seeing the Northern Lights .Get a chairlift up to the station and learn about the aurora Borealis observation are made with the radio receivers and cameras. Abisko is the start of Sweden’s skiing and hiking routes,the 440kms long King’s trail .Best time for Midnight Sun is 30May to 14 July and northern Lights from September to March. An unofficial national symbol, the Dala Horse is the souvenir to bring from Sweden .It has been named by the province Dalarna. These are the small wooden horses since 17th century.
STOCKHOLM BLOODBATH-In Stockholm the Stortorget is a peaceful square, but it was once the scene of one of the darkest episodes in the history of Stockholm. In 1520, shortly after the Danish King Kristian II had conquered Stockholm he promised to grant amnesty to his opponents. The king organized a large banquet to which all Swedish dignitaries were invited. At the end of the festivities, he had 82 of the guests who had opposed his rule arrested. They were all beheaded at Stortorget the following day. This didn't deter the Swedish from revolting against the Danish occupation, just three years later Gustav Vasa liberated Stockholm.
SCIENCE-Alfred Nobel invented dynamite and instituted the Nobel Prize. Lars Magnus Ericsson started the company and still one of the largest telecom companies in the world. Nikola Tesla is one of the inventors of the three-phase electrical system .Tetra Pack was an invention for storing liquid foods by Erik Wallenberg.
VIKINGS-It is simply a world for old sailor/navigator/pirates/tradesmen. Some men joined expeditions of trade, exploration and piracy, reaching as far as present day-Canada, Morocco. Viking age artefacts can be seen in The Museum of Antiques in Stockholm .A horned helmet was made to romanticize the Viking Age.
RELIGION-After the Protestant Reformation in the 1530,a change led by Martin Luther’s Swedish associate and Roman Catholic Church was abolished and Lutherian to prevail.
AURORA SKY STATION-Swedish Lapland is the far northwest corner of Sweden is vast area of arctic plains, forests, mountains, glaciers, lakes and rivers. Northern lights are charged particles discharged by sun to reach earth’s atmosphere on solar winds and collide with gaseous Particles in the Earth’s atmosphere, and this is because the proximity to magnetic field of north pole. Abisko is a 77km2 National Park in Swedish Lapland famous for its natural beauty, Nordic wildlife and is a spot for winter adventures and summer hiking in the midnight sun. Aurora Sky Station is one of the best spots in the world for seeing the Northern Lights .Get a chairlift up to the station and learn about the aurora Borealis observation are made with the radio receivers and cameras. Abisko is the start of Sweden’s skiing and hiking routes,the 440kms long King’s trail .Best time for Midnight Sun is 30May to 14 July and northern Lights from September to March. An unofficial national symbol, the Dala Horse is the souvenir to bring from Sweden .It has been named by the province Dalarna. These are the small wooden horses since 17th century.
STOCKHOLM BLOODBATH-In Stockholm the Stortorget is a peaceful square, but it was once the scene of one of the darkest episodes in the history of Stockholm. In 1520, shortly after the Danish King Kristian II had conquered Stockholm he promised to grant amnesty to his opponents. The king organized a large banquet to which all Swedish dignitaries were invited. At the end of the festivities, he had 82 of the guests who had opposed his rule arrested. They were all beheaded at Stortorget the following day. This didn't deter the Swedish from revolting against the Danish occupation, just three years later Gustav Vasa liberated Stockholm.
STOCKHOLM SIGHTS & ATTRATIONS-
001- ROYALE PALACE (KUNGLIGA SLOTTET)-The palace is located in Gamla Stan (old town), its neighbours are the Riksdag Building and Stockholm Cathedral.The Royal Palace (Stockholm Palace) of Stockholm is His majesty The King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia official residence and also is the place for most of the monarchy’s official receptions and various departments and his office, while performing his duties as head of state. It is open round the year for public and visitor’s .The palace is built in baroque style as a Roman palace started in 1697 and completed in 1760.The palace has 608 rooms divided between seven floors. Many of the more than 600 rooms are open to the public, including the royal apartments, which can be accessed via the entrance at the outer courtyard .These luxuriously decorated rooms are used for official receptions and dinners, which takes place in the gallery of Charles XI, a magnificent room modelled after the mirror room at the Versailles Palace .This is the world biggest palace where King still uses the palace. On the east side is a small terraced garden, the Logården, the west side is entered via an outer courtyard surrounded by a semi-circular colonnade. This is where the daily ceremony for the Change of the Guards takes place .The south façade, bordering Slottsbacken, has a monumental entrance gate decorated with colossal Corinthian columns and Inner courtyard large statues set in niches. There are three museums in the palace i-the Treasury (King’s Gustav Vasa’s sword of state, King Erik XIV’s Crown. orb, scepter and key and so many crowns), ii-the Tre Kronor Museum shows the history and iii- Gustav III’s Museum of Antiques. The Tre Kronor Museum at the north side of the palace illustrates the medieval history of the palace with a display of objects that were recovered from the ruins of the castle .King Gustav III brought a number of statues from Rome, these are displayed in the Gustav III Antikmuseum, which occupies a floor of the palace's northeast wing. Here also see- The Royal Apartments-The Hall of State-the Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry-the Armoury -Queen’s apartment- Royal Cahpel (in summer season the chapel is open to the public twice a week .The Royal Guards, selected from military units across Sweden and are a popular attraction in Stockholm. They have been guarding the palace since 1523.During summer month’s large crowds gather at the outer courtyard on the west side of the palace, where they witness the daily spectacle of the change of the guards. It is especially interesting during the summer months, when the mounted band of the royal guards take part in the ceremony. The mounted guards start from the Cavalry Barracks while the marching guards start from the Army Museum. They arrive at the palace around 12:15; around 13:15 on Sundays and public holidays. The ceremony lasts about 40 minutes.
002-DORTTINGHOLM PALACE (DORTTINGHOLM SLOTT)- It is private residence of Swedish royal family. It is located in Drottningholm. It is built on an island Lovon on the banks of Lake Malaren. It was built in 1580by King John III for his queen. It served regularly as a residence for royal families. The current Swedish royal family has used Drottningholm as their primary residence since 1981.There is a beautiful baroque garden which was created in the end of 17th century. It is flanked by thick trees avenues and many statues are scattered throughout the area. There is an English garden also consists of two ponds with canal, bridges, large open sections of grass and trees. Throughout this area vistas can be seen with statues from Italy .There is a Palace Church and a Palace Theatre. On 14th July when Crown Prince’s Victoria has her birthday celebrations outdoor and televised.
THE CHINESE PAVILION-It is a treasure in the Drottningholm Palace Park. King Adolf Fredrik surprised Queen Lovisa Ulrika on her birthday in 1753 to give her as a birthday present. Now it is replaced pavilion but contains Chinese elements
THE CHINESE PAVILION-It is a treasure in the Drottningholm Palace Park. King Adolf Fredrik surprised Queen Lovisa Ulrika on her birthday in 1753 to give her as a birthday present. Now it is replaced pavilion but contains Chinese elements
003-ROSERSBERG PALACE- It was built in 1630 and became Royal Palace in 1762, when state gave Rosenberg to Gustan III’s younger brother Karl XIII. It has well preserved interiors and collections .The endless park in nice landscape with Lake Malaren .It is situated on the skirts of Stockholm. It has a lavish garden and avenues and 600 meters pond still exists adds the charm to the Palace
004-ULRIKSDAL PALACE- It is a royal palace situated on the banks of Edsviken in National City Park in Solna 6kms north of Stockholm. The building completed in 1645.
005-THE VASA MUSEUM (VASAMUSEET)- The maritime museum, located on the island of Djurgarden, the museum displays the only 17th century ship, 64-gun warships. In 1625 King Gustav II Adolf, member of the Vasa dynasty, commissioned the construction of four new warships, of which the Vasa would be the first one. It was the largest ship ever built in Sweden and the Vasa was meant to be the pride of the marine. Construction of the galleon started the following year at the naval shipyard now the Blasieholmen neighbourhood, where about 300 men built the ship in a span of less than three years. On August 10, 1628, a large crowd gathered near the quays to see the Vasa depart from Slussen for its maiden voyage. It was headed towards the marine base of Älvsnabben, where 300 soldiers would board the ship. It would never reach its destination, shortly after hoisting four of its ten sails, the ship started to keel over and water gushed in through the open gun ports. After sailing just 1300 meters, the ship sunk, taking 30 of a total of 150 people on board with it. Finally in 1956, after years of searching for the location of the shipwreck, the amateur archaeologist Anders Franzén recovered a wooden piece of the Vasa. The following year the salvage of the Vasa started and tunnels were created for hoisting cables. After years of preparatory work, the Vasa returned to the surface in 1961. The low level of salt in the water the wooden ship was well preserved since shipworms only survive in water with a minimum level of salt .Three centuries later after salvaged from the waters and installed in custom-designed Vasamuseet in 2000. It is the only one world’s preserved 17th-century war ship .The museum allows viewing from its six levels and it is one of the 7-wonders of Sweden. The Vasa was the largest warship of its time, it had 10 sails, carried 64 cannons, had a crew of 145 and could carry 300 soldiers. The ship had a length of about 69 meters (226 ft) and its main mast was more than 52 meters tall. But what makes the ship really impressive is the rich decoration: a total of 500 sculptures and 200 ornaments were created by sculptors, most of whom hailed from Holland and Germany. The most impressive decorations are the large lion at the ship's bow and the 19.3 meters high stern (63 ft) which is completely covered with magnificent sculptures. The lion is a reference to King Gustav II, who was known as the 'Lion of the North'. Painted sculpture most of the statues on the ship depict figures from Greek mythology and the Bible. But there are also depictions of sea monsters, Swedish aristocrats and royal symbols. The original sculptures are now in plain wood colours, but originally they were painted with bright colours. Several replica sculptures as well as a fully painted scale model of the Vasa show how the ship must have looked in 1628.
006 -SKANSEN OPEN AIR MUSEUM- Here is the oldest open-air museum of the world and Stockholm Zoo, with beautiful location on Royal Djurgarden. It was founded in 1891 to show the way of life in the different parts of Sweden before the Industrial era .This is the place to visit Sweden in Miniature.150 farms and dwellings were transported here and reassembled .Here find-town districts-glass blowing-pottery-tinsmith workshop-bakery-gold colour manor house-wooden church and museum shop for traditional handicrafts. All native animals of Scandinavia such as bison-otter-fed fox-reindeer-wolf- moose-bears-lynxes-wolves-wolverines and seal etc. There are also farmsteads where rare breeds of farm animals can be seen. There is terrarium, monkey house and children’s zoo. Swedish traditions such as Midsummer, Walpurgis Nights and Lucia are celebrated. Since 1897, Skansen has been served by the Skansens Bergbana, a funicular railway on the northwest side of the Skansen hill. The funicular is 196.4 meters long, with a total rise of 34.57 meters.
007-THE CITY HALL (STADSHUSET)- A total of 8 million dark red bricks, many handmade, were used for the construction, which started in 1911. The new city hall was completed 12 years later in 1923. The building is arranged around two large inner courtyards, of which one is completely covered. The open courtyard is accessed through a large round arch. An Italian Renaissance style colonnade separates the courtyard from the garden bordering the lake. The city hall is decorated with numerous sculptures and paintings that depict legendary figures and scenes from the history of Sweden. The 348 feet tall bell tower of the city hall stands as a beacon on the bay. There are 365 steps to go to the top of tower and have a magnificent view of Stockholm .The tower is crowned with a cupola, topped by a weathervane with three crowns, the national emblem of Sweden. Inside the tower is the Tower Museum, which contains models of the many statues found in the city hall. Both the tower and museum are open during summertime. At the foot of the tower is the tomb of Birger Jarl, the legendary founder of Stockholm. The Blue Hall (Blå Hallen), with a beautiful mosaic floor and magnificent staircase, is a banquet hall, best known as the scene of the Nobel Prize festivities that take place here every year on December 10. Despite its name, the hall is not blue. The original plans called for the walls to be covered with blue glazed tiles, but Östberg was so impressed by the dark red colour of the bricks, that he changed his mind. The most famous hall in the City Hall is the Golden Hall (Gyllene Salen). Its walls are covered with magnificent Byzantine style mosaics. The hall is made of ten kilos of gold were used by the artist Einar Forseth for the creation of the mosaics. The Prinsens Galleri, a long hall above the Italianesque colonnade facing the lake, is decorated with a fresco painting by Prins Eugen.The Stadshusterrassen, a symmetrically laid out terrace garden facing lake Mälaren, is embellished with two granite shell-shaped fountains and several sculptures. On either side of steps leading to the lake stand statues. A female figure represents Dansen (the dance). Engelbrekt Statue and a male figure represent Sången (the song). Three more statues of Eldh on the terrace show important figures in Swedish culture, the writer August Strindberg, the poet Gustaf Fröding and the painter Ernst Josephson. The 15th century freedom fighter and national hero Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson is also honoured with a statue.
008-NOBEL MUSEUM- The Nobel Museum is a museum devoted to information on the Nobel Prize, Nobel laureates from 1901 to present, and the life of the founder of the prize, Alfred Nobel (1833-1896). The museum is, together with the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Library, located in the former Stock Exchange Building (Börshuset) taking up the north side of the square Stortorget in Gamla Stan in the old town . The museum opened in the spring of 2001 for the centenary of the Nobel Prize. The museum boasts exhibitions featuring celebrities such as Marie Curie, Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill.
009-STOCKHOLM CATHEDRAL (STORKYKAN)- The cathedral is located in Gamla Stan, Stockholm's Old Town, at the top of the Slottsbacken slope near the Royal Palace , locally known as Storkykan. It is a medieval Cathedral built in 1279, The Gothic interior dates back to the 15th century; the exterior was partly reconstructed in the 1740s in a Baroque style to better complement the architecture of the Royal Palace. The clock tower, built in 1743, rises over Gamla Stan with a height of 66 meters (216 ft) and features prominently in the city's skyline.The church houses unique objects such as the St George and Dragon Sculpture. The sculpture is a 3.5 meters (11 ft) high group of St George and the Dragon. It commemorates the victory of the Swedish army over the Danes at the battle of Brunkeberg in 1471 and was commissioned by the leader of the army Sten Sture. The sculpture is made of wood, iron and gold leaf and elk horn was used for the dragon's scales. Another famous work of art in the Storkyrkan is the Vädersolstavlan or Sun Dog Painting. It depicts an atmospheric phenomenon that was observed above Stockholm on April 20, 1535, when six 'sun dogs' or 'mock suns' were seen over the city. The original painting, the oldest depiction of Stockholm, was created in 1535 by Urban Målare but is now lost. Other interesting artwork in the church includes the silver altar from 1650, the pulpit and two royal chairs. Both sculpted in 1680, a 3.7 meters high candlestick and two giant canvases and the Crucifixion and the Last Judgment.
010-ROYAL DRAMATIC THEATRE (DRAMATEN)- King Gustav III, nicknamed the 'theater king', founded the Royal Dramatic Theatre in 1788. Plays including some written by the king himself were performed at the Bollhuset, a hall at Slottsbacken near the Cathedral .The building present look is the result of a six year reconstruction and opened in 1908.The result was a cost price double the original estimate, a sumptuous interior and a lavishly decorated exterior. The architecture was inspired by the Art Nouveau buildings that were popular at the time in Vienna. Ekeberg marble was used for the façade, which is adorned with a long relief of a festival in honour of the Greek God Dionysus. The gilded statues that flank the entrance of the Dramaten, are allegorical representations of Poetry and Drama. The auditorium, with a seating capacity of over 800 people is beautifully decorated with stucco and a ceiling. In front of the Royal Dramatic Theatre, near Nybrogatan, stands a sculpture of Swedish actress Margaret Krook, who died in 2001.
011-HISTORY MUSEUM (HISTORISKA MUSEET)- The history museum opened in 1943 in a plain, fortress-like building with a corner tower. The large bronze door and abstract sculptures at the entrance were added in the 1950s. This is one of the best museums in Stockholm, and the displays of Prehistoric Sweden, the Vikings gallery, Medieval art and the Gold Room are a must visit. The History Museum originally focused on the life of the Vikings and this large gallery is still one of the museum visitor's favourites. More than 4.000 artefacts - including jewellery, clothes and weapons illustrate the everyday life of the Vikings. A scale model shows Birka, Sweden's oldest city. The most famous room in the Historiska Museet is the Gold Room. The circular room protected like a bank vault was created in 1990 and contains the most valuable treasures of the museum with about 50 kg of gold and 200 kg of silver. Many of the jewels displayed here date back to Scandinavia's Golden Age from around 500 to 1000 AD. Some of the most important treasures include three large gold collars and the Elisabeth reliquary, originally a chalice which was converted into a reliquary decorated with gold and precious stones to hold the skull of saint Elisabeth of Thuringia. The Textile Room shows historic textiles from the Middle Ages, including garments used by priests and tapestry, the oldest one, a tapestry from a church in Skog, dates back to the 13th century. The adjacent Baroque Hall shows a collection of statues, ornately decorated altarpieces and other ecclesiastical objects.
012-NATIONAL MUSEUM- When King Gustav Vasa started a collection of paintings in the Gripsholm Castle. The collection expanded over the years through acquisitions and wartime confiscations. In the 18th century King Gustav III, a patron of the arts, decided his arts collection would be donated to the state after his death. This led to the foundation of the Royal Museum now the National Museum in 1792. The new museum building was inaugurated in 1886.The museum's paintings collection spans the period from the 16th century up to the early 20th century with works from masters such as Rubens, Rembrandt, Goya and Gauguin. Swedish artists are well represented with works from artists including Alexander Roslin, Bruno Liljefors and Anders Zorn. One of the highlights of the museum is the Lady with the Veil, painted in 1769 by Roslin. The history of Swedish furniture is highlighted in particular and the museum also showcases its large collections of porcelain, glass and silverware.
013-NORDIC MUSEUM (NORDIC MUSEET)- Nordiska Museet is a museum dedicated to the traditions and cultural history of the Nordic countries. It displays everyday objects from the early 16th century to today. It is housed in an impressive building at the Djurgården Island .The Nordiska Museet (Nordic Museum) was founded for to preserve the culture of the Nordic people for future generations. Nordic Museum was completed in 1907, after almost 20 years of construction, it was one of Stockholm's grandest buildings and its silhouette is still visible for miles around. The entrance to the museum is marked by two obelisks and a central statue of King Charles X. Inside the large central hall, visitors are greeted by a monumental oak wood statue of King Gustav Vasa. The exhibitions in the Nordiska Museet are spread over the four floors surrounding the central hall and show a wide range of folk objects that give an insight into Nordic country life over the centuries. In total there are some 1.5 million objects on display, ranging from clothes, toys and daily utensils to furniture and historic rooms. Some exhibits focus on cultures such as the Samen, while others illustrate typical Nordic traditions and customs.
014-STOCKHOLM CONCERT HALL (KONSERTHUSET)-It was completed in 1926 and used for the distribution of Nobel Prizes. It is an imposing building with a monumental façade characterized by its light blue colour and 10 tall Corinthian columns. It is the home to Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Each year on December 10, the Swedish king awards the Nobel Prizes here in the main hall. The one exception is the Nobel Peace Prize, for which a separate ceremony is held in Oslo. The square in front of the Konserthuset is the Hötorget (Hay Market). This has been a market place since the Middle Ages and despite the construction of a modern covered market hall - the Hötorgshallen - in 1958, the square is still a lively market place during summertime .The main attraction at the square is the Orpheus Fountain - known as Orfeusbrunnen or Orfeusgruppen - in front of the Konserthuset .The fountain was created by Carl Milles, probably the most famous Swedish sculptor of the 20th century.
015-A-ROYAL SWEDISH OPERA (KUNGLIGA OPERAN)- The building is located in the centre of Sweden's capital Stockholm in the borough of Norrmalm , on the eastern side of Gustav Adolfs Torg across from the former Arvfurstens Palats , now Ministry for Foreign Affairs. It lies on the North side of the Norrström River and is connected to the Royal Palace through the Norrbro Bridge. The building was very imposing with its centre Corinthian .The foundation for the opera in Sweden was laid by king Gustav III, a playwright and patron of the arts. The first opera performances were held in 1773 in Bollhuset (Ball House). The theatre building, with its grandiose neoclassical front façade adorned with statues, arches and Corinthian and Tuscan columns, is best known for its magnificent Golden
The tetra style portico supporting four statues and topped by the royal crown. The four-tiered auditorium was oval in shape, had excellent acoustics and sight lines. The 28 meters (92 ft) long foyer is decorated with large crystal chandeliers, gold stucco and ceiling paintings by Carl Larsson. The design of the marble staircase leading to the foyer was based on the famous grand staircase of the Garnier Opera in Paris. The auditorium, which can seat close to 1200 people, has a magnificent chandelier and a large ceiling.
The tetra style portico supporting four statues and topped by the royal crown. The four-tiered auditorium was oval in shape, had excellent acoustics and sight lines. The 28 meters (92 ft) long foyer is decorated with large crystal chandeliers, gold stucco and ceiling paintings by Carl Larsson. The design of the marble staircase leading to the foyer was based on the famous grand staircase of the Garnier Opera in Paris. The auditorium, which can seat close to 1200 people, has a magnificent chandelier and a large ceiling.
016-PARLIAMENT (RIKSDAGSHUSET)- The Riksdagshuset, Sweden's massive parliament building, occupies almost half of Helgeandsholmen, a small island between Stockholm's city centre and the old town.There are two buildings one is the old building and new building. Two large arches connect the old parliament building with the new parliament building, which are divided by a pedestrianized street. The new parliament building (the old National Bank building) has a signature semi-circular shape. Inside is the Plenisalen, the plenary hall. Visitors are welcome to follow public sessions of the parliament in the plenary hall from the modern glass gallery above the hall. There are also guided tours of the parliament buildings for those interested. The old Parliament building has an impressive front façade.
017-GAMLA STAN (OLD TOWN) - Gamla Stan (Old Town) is the historic heart of Stockholm. Gamla Stan officially comprises three of Stockholm's fourteen islands – Riddarholmen, Stadsholmen, Helgeandsholmen , but when people mention Gamla Stan, they usually think of Stadsholmen, the largest of the three. Many of the narrow, cobblestone alleys in Gamla Stan are car free, making a walk around the Old Town is a pleasure. Plenty of shops, cafés and restaurants ensure the area is always alive. But there are also several idyllic squares and peaceful streets where visitors can admire the historic charm of Stockholm's medieval centre. Stockholm started to develop in the 13th century, under the protection of the castle that was built by the city's founder Birger Jarl. By the end of the 13th century, it had become Sweden's largest city. From the 14th up to the 17th century, German merchants made Stockholm an important trade centre. They built many patrician houses, churches and warehouses on Stadsholmen. Many of the magnificent palaces and houses in Gamla Stan including the Royal Palace were built during the 17th and early 18th century, when Stockholm was one of Europe's most powerful nations. Gamla Stan is packed with interesting historical sites and museums. The most famous attraction is the Royal Palace, built in the early 18th century at the site of the former castle. Nearby is one of the oldest buildings in Gamla Stan, the Storkyrkan (Great Church), Stockholm's Cathedral, originally built in the early 14th century.
018-STORTORGET-From the Middle Ages, this square has been a central meeting place and on market days the square was bustling with activity. Until 1732, when the city hall moved to the Bondeska Palace, Stortorget was also the political heart of the city. Today the square mostly attracts tourists, many of whom take a break at one of the inviting cafés that border the square. The east side Stortorget is lined with beautiful buildings, erected during the 17th and 18th century. The west side of the square is arguably the most picturesque and gives a good idea of what the square looked like during the heyday of imperial Sweden in the 17th century. The most ornate is the façade of the red Schantzka Huset, built in 1650 and decorated with a porch with figures of Roman soldiers.
019-BÖRSHUSET- The most impressive building at the square is the Börshuset, the former stock exchange building. It was commissioned by King Gustav III and built between 1767 and 1778. The Börshuset was built at the site of the former city hall, which occupied several row houses. In 1990, with the introduction of electronic trading, the building lost its original function. Today the ground floor is home to the Nobelmuseet (Nobel Museum). The Börshuset is also where the Nobel Prize of literature is announced and where the Academy holds its formal meeting.
020-STORTORGSBRUNNEN-Ever since the Middle Ages, a well stood at the centre of Stortorget. The well-marked the centre of Stockholm, from here all distances in the city as well as the distances to other cities were measured. In 1857, shortly after the well had dried out, it was moved to Brunkebegstorg but it returned to its original place in 1953.
021-GERMAN CHURCH (TYSKA BRINKEN)-For centuries, this area was dominated by German merchants, and nowhere is this more obvious than at the German Church (Tyska Kyrkan), where visitors are greeted with German inscriptions .Tyska Brinken (German Slope) connects the German Church with Västerlånggatan, an often crowded shopping street with plenty of souvenir shops. Today it is one of the main streets in Gamla Stan but in the Middle Ages, it was a lakeside path just outside the city wall. Parallel with Västerlånggatan runs Prästgatan, which ran just inside the city walls. The cobblestoned alley with pastel coloured buildings is one of the most beautiful streets in the city. In the wall of one of the houses, at the corner of Kårkbrinken, you can see a runestone, which is believed to be some 1000 years old.
022-MARTEN TROTZIGS GRAND-Prästgatan passes the steepest and most narrow street in Gamla Stan- Mårten Trotzigs Grand. The street, names after a German merchant, is only 90cm wide (3 ft). After climbing the steps you end up at Järntorget (Iron Square), the site of the National Bank until 1906 when it moved to Helgean-dsholmen.
023-STRANDVAGEN (BEACH ROAD) - Strandvägen ('beach road') has a length of 1200 meters (0.75 mi) and runs east from Nybroplan to the Djurgården Bridge . In 1861, the King approves the creation of Strandvägen. The goal was to create a street 'unparalleled in Europe', and have it completed before the inauguration of the Arts and Craft Exhibition of 1897, held in Djurgården. Construction started and fifteen years later, with the planting of three rows of lime trees, the 35 meter wide street was completed. Strandvägen became one of the city's most desirable addresses and developers built magnificent mansions designed by some of the country's best architects like Hotel Esplanade, Hotel Diplomate and Bunsowska Huset. Soon after, many of Stockholm's most affluent citizens moved to this new street. Strandvägen is one of the most pleasant boulevards in the city, its wide waterfront esplanade where one walks along cafés and picturesque. The other side of the tree-lined boulevard with magnificent architecture, with one palatial building after another. Strandvägen ends at the Djurgårdsbron , the most ornate bridge in Stockholm. It was built to impress visitors of the Arts and Craft Exhibition in Djurgården, a former royal hunting ground. The bridge is decorated with large statues of Nordic gods.
024-DJURGARDEN BRIDGE-In the 16th century Djurgården became a royal hunting ground when King Gustav Vasa confiscated the land from the Catholic Church. After the island was opened to the public in the 18th century, it became a popular recreation area. After the plans were made to host the Arts and Craft Exhibition of 1897 on the island of Djurgården, preparations were made to impress visitors by beautifying the surrounding area. The new cast iron bridge with three spans was officially inaugurated in May 1897, just before the opening of the international exhibition. It is 190ft long and 59ft wide. The bridge is beautifully decorated. Each pier is adorned with a relief showing faces of sea monsters and festoons .The deck is decorated with lampposts and four large pillars topped with statues of Nordic gods. The two statues on the side of Djurgården are Thor with his hammer, and Freya, goddess of love and beauty. The two statues on the side of Strandvägen depict Heimdallr, with his horn Gjallarhorn and Frigga, queen of Asgard and wife of Odin.
025-KING’S GARDEN (KUNGSTRAGARDEN)-The history of the King's Garden goes back to the 15th century, when this was the royal vegetable garden. In the late 16th century it was converted into a private walled garden. In 1770’s the park opened to the public. The garden is cantered on a statue of King Charles XIII, installed here in 1825. During wintertime the area around the statue is turned into a popular ice skating rink. To the north of garden is an open area with a large rectangular pond. The pond is often dry and used to stage concerts or to host various festivities.
026-GRONA LUND-Tivoli Gröna Lund is an amusement park in Stockholm. It is located on the seaward side of the Djurgården island and is relatively small compared to other amusement parks, mainly due to its central location, which limits expansion. Gröna Lund is a popular venue for concerts during the summer. The 15-acre amusement park has over 30 attractions. Gröna Lund was founded in 1883 by James Schultheiss. The park's location is quite unique in the sense that most of the buildings are old residential and commercial structures dating from the 19th century. The buildings are therefore not built for the park, instead, the park is built around the buildings. The park has 3 different entertainment venues- Dansbanan (Lilla Scenen), Gröna Lundsteatern and Stora Scenen. Gröna Lund features most attractions common to amusement parks, such as the tunnel of love, a funhouse, as well as seven roller coasters.
027-THE ERICSSON GLOBE-The Ericsson Globe (originally known as the Stockholm Globe Arena, or in Swedish nicknamed Globen, ’The Globe’) is the national indoor arena of Sweden, located in the Johanneshov district of Stockholm (Stockholm Globe City). It represents the Sun in the Sweden Solar System, the world's largest scale model of the Solar System. The Ericsson Globe is currently the largest hemispherical building in the world and took two and a half years to build. Shaped like a large white ball, it has a diameter of 361 feet and an inner height of 279 feet. The volume of the building is 605,000 cubic meters. It has a seating capacity of 16,000 spectators for shows and concerts and 13,850 for ice hockey. On February 2, 2009, the naming rights to the Stockholm Globe Arena were officially acquired by Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson, and it became known as the Ericsson Globe.
028-SKY VIEW-ON TOP OF THE GLOBE (FUNICULAR RAILWAY)-It is 427ft above the sea level and have the view of the city. The two Skyview Gondolas attached to rails on the side of sphere departs, side by side, every 10 minutes, carrying 16 people and takes 30 minutes. A gondola made of glass takes up along the outside of the Ericsson Globe-the largest spherical building in the world. Opening hrs-Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00hrs and Saturday to Sunday from 09.30 to 16.00 hrs. Last Skyview departs at 19.30.
029-BJORN BORG-Bjorn Borg was born on 6June 1956 and was a world No-1 tennis player from Sweden. Between 1974-1981 he won 11 Grand Slam singles titles. He won five consecutive Wimbledon singles titles and second only to Rafel Nadal. He was the greatest tennis players of the world.
030-ART IN SUBWAY-Stockholm is one of the most beautiful metros in Europe. For the price of a Stockholm Metro ticket one can see sculptures, mosaics, paintings, art installations, inscriptions and reliefs from the 1950s through to the 2000s at most stations. One can get SL’s free metro art booklet “Our Tip” – Buy a ticket valid for one hour from the time of stamping at T-Centralen and take the blue line to see the art at Radhuset and Fridhemsplan stations. At Rissne can see history of Civilizations. See also Rinkeby Station on Blue Line wild gold mosaics, paintings and sculptures and runs along both sides of the platform. Kungstrad garden is also to be seen.
031-ABSOLUTE ICE BAR AT NORDIC SEA HOTEL-It is the world first permanent Ice Bar where the temperature is -50C all year. The interior including the glass is made from pure ice. The 40 minutes experience includes a warm cape, gloves, an ice- cool feeling of exhilaration and a cocktail of choice in an ice glass. Location-Vasaplan 4, Stockholm.
032-ABBA MUSEUM-Swedish Music Hall Of Fame exhibits the story of the band. ABBA remained Swedish pop music most successful Band of all times, with sale of 378 million albums around the world. ABBA’s music span of the band carrier starts from 1970 and spilt in 1983.
033-IKEA-It is a store for home furnishing, appliances, ready to-assemble furniture, home accessories and kitchen products. It is the world’s largest furniture retailer with more than 301 stores and 30 franchised units in 41 countries of the world .The largest market is Germany with 44 stores followed by USA with 37 stores. IKEA product reflects its Swedish heritage with modern design. The company was founded in 1943by Ingvar Kamprad a 17-year boy and opened first store in Almhult, Sweden. IKEA name on the founder name-Ingvar Kamprad, his birth place-Elmtaryd, and village nearby-Agunnaryd.
034-CENTRAL STATION STOCKHOLM-Stockholm Central Station is the largest railway station in Sweden. The station is situated in the district of Norrmalm at Vasagatan/Central Plan. Opened July 18, 1871, the railway station is the largest in Sweden, with over 2, 00,000 visitors daily and out of them are about 1,70,000 travellers . In front of the central station stands a statue of Nils Ericson. The station was built between 1867 and 1871.
035-SERGELS TORG-It is the most central public square in Stockholm, named after 18th-century sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel , whose workshop was located north of the square. Sergels torg forms part of a continuous underground structure almost a kilometer in length .There is also a super ellipse shaped fountain and rectangular black and white composition with a pillar of glass and steel .Sergels Torg has a dominant west-to-east axis and is divided into three distinct parts:
i-A sunken pedestrian plaza furnished with a triangular pattern and a wide flight of stairs leading up to the pedestrian street Drottninggatan, connecting south to Stockholm Old Town and north to Kungsgatan.
ii- This plaza is partly overbuilt by a roundabout cantered on a glass obelisk and by the concrete decks of three major streets.
iii- North of this traffic junction is a considerably smaller open space overlooked by the high-rise façade of the fifth Hötorget Building from where the avenue Sveavägen extends north.
i-A sunken pedestrian plaza furnished with a triangular pattern and a wide flight of stairs leading up to the pedestrian street Drottninggatan, connecting south to Stockholm Old Town and north to Kungsgatan.
ii- This plaza is partly overbuilt by a roundabout cantered on a glass obelisk and by the concrete decks of three major streets.
iii- North of this traffic junction is a considerably smaller open space overlooked by the high-rise façade of the fifth Hötorget Building from where the avenue Sveavägen extends north.
036 -DROTTNINGGATAN-Drottninggatan (Queen Street) is a major pedestrian street in Stockholm. It stretches north from the bridge Riksbron at Norrström to Observatorielunden. The major part of the street is car-free and lined-up with numerous stores and shops. Drottninggatan is with small specialist shops, big stores like H&M and Zara. During summer; the street is often crowded with tourists.
037-AHLENS-Åhléns is a Swedish chain of department stores, it was created in 1899, located in almost every city in the country, and with several stores in the major cities, including 18 stores in Stockholm alone (March 2007). Åhléns also has business operations in Norway. It is one of Sweden’s leading retailers in a number of fields. Åhléns is at the intersection of Drottninggatan and Hamngatan and is one of those department stores that sells absolutely everything – from a bar of soap, to designer artglass. Åhléns is big in international and Swedish brand for fashion, beauty and cosmetic products.
038-GALLERIAN-Gallerian is a two-storey shopping mall in the heart of Stockholm and one of the biggest malls in the city. There are stores like- Vero Moda, Benetton, KappAhl, Oasis, H&M (clothing stores), Traditon (sells games), Clas Ohlson (Do-It-Yourself), Rizzo (shoe store), Pressbyrn (newsagents), plus many more. There are sports stores, a book store, food hall, and the coolest public toilets.
039- GAMLA STAN (OLD TOWN)-The entire area of Gamla Stan or the old town being very touristy, is impliedly full of gift shops for you to be able to carry home nice souvenirs Walking on Gamla-Stan it is a pleasure to watch out colourful show-windows of numerous shops, to come into a small gift shop and to buy something for memory.