For those of us who treasure Mother Nature’s spectacular displays of natural scenery, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, captures the imagination in an instant. This charming city occupies 14 beautiful verdant islands connected by 57 ornate bridges and is crammed with the most beautiful architecture and an extensive array of fascinating attractions enticing visitors from afar.
Gamla Stan, founded in 1252, is the original centre of the city and remains one of the best preserved medieval centres in Europe. I took a leisurely stroll along the main streets of Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan, breathing in the crisp, clean air whilst pondering on a tantalising glimpse into Sweden’s rich and vibrant tapestry of history and culture. The narrow, meandering cobblestone streets reflect a bygone age and with the sunlight shimmering on the gold façade of the surrounding buildings, I was mesmerised.
For sea lovers, a trip to the Vasa Museum is a treat. This museum is the most frequently visited throughout Scandinavia as it exhibits the only preserved seventeenth century ship in the world. The Vasa, a splendid warship, which measures 69 metres in length, sank on her maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged in 1961.
The ship has undergone over 50 years of restoration and is now housed in her own specially designed museum, which proudly displays the ship’s masts on the roof of the building. A wide variety of presentations include ‘Battle’ which gives an insight into naval warfare in the early 1600s; ‘Life on Board’ giving examples of life at sea for the 450 men who lived on the vessel ;and ‘Face to Face’ which provides details of those who were lost on the fateful day she sank.
For an outstanding example of medieval architecture, I visited Stockholm’s national cathedral. Built in 1279, it is the oldest building that is still in use and it is simply magnificent. I then wandered around the Nobel Museum, where visitors are offered a unique insight into the life and work of all Nobel Prize winners and there is an opportunity to view a selection of short, inspiring films featuring the outstanding achievements of Marie Curie and Nelson Mandela.
Another popular attraction is Carl Gustaf XVI’s baroque style Royal Palace, where the Royal Armoury displays a fascinating collection of royal costumes and armour, while the changing of the Royal Guard takes place daily. The Tre Kronor Museum, brimming with displays of medieval history, is another must-see, and there are more treasures in Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities.
For art lovers, the National Museum, a very grand building located on Södra Blasieholmshamnen, displays an impressive collection of sculptures, drawings and decorative arts dating back to the Middle Ages. Paintings by Degas, Rubens, Goya and Rembrandt demanded my attention and the imposing staircase in the centre of the museum features a selection of beautiful frescoes by Carl Larrson.
I must confess that I was a trifle weary after a hectic day of exploration and the luxurious Grand Hotel, which dates back to 1874, was the ideal spot to relax and rejuvenate. The property is located on the waterfront, opposite Gamla Stan and the Stockholm Castle.
I opted for the sumptuously furnished Ingrid Bergman executive suite, measuring 76 sqm. As the suite is named in honour of one of Sweden’s most famous movie stars I imagined glamour and that is certainly reflected in this accommodation. The gorgeous living room features a plump sofa, which was the perfect place for an afternoon snooze and the spacious bathroom presents a tub made for sinking into, prior to a deep slumber in the comfortable bed swathed in fine linens.
Up with the larks and following a first class buffet breakfast in the hotel’s Veranda restaurant, I was ready to explore further afield. Södermalm, south of Gamla Stan, is another charming waterfront area with beautiful buildings, art galleries and shops crammed with trinkets. Only the most resistant visitors can withstand the temptation to part with a few Krona here.
Weighed down with shopping bags, I was feeling a trifle parched and fancied a breather and a touch of glitz, so I headed for the luxurious Himlen cocktail lounge located on the 25th floor of the Skrapan skyscraper on Götgatan. The 360-degree view over the city is absolutely spectacular and as I sipped on my chilled glass of sparkling wine I raised a toast to Stockholm, a true Scandinavian treasure.
Factbox
Direct flights are available from Heathrow to Stockholm and take approximately 2.5 hours.
For more information on the featured accommodation visit grandhotel.se.
Credited images provided with the kind permission of imagebank.sweden.se.
