Unique Places in Stockholm

Sergels torg is the most central public square in Stockholm.In the centre of the square there is Crystal vertical obelisk in glass and steel. Night view of the obelisk is spectacular
Sergels torg has a dominant west to east axis and is divided into 3 parts.

This statue is a bronze copy of a wooden sculpture that is placed in Storkyran. The bronze statue was put in its place during the year 1912-1913. It is located in the small square of kopmansbrinken in the old city.The bronze statue is a gift by Hjalmar Wicander.

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This new museum, located at the waterfront is hosting until September 2010 an exhibit of world class photographer Annie Leibowitz on display at the Photography Museum in Stockholm.

This alone is well worth a visit, because it's really an amazing exhibit.

But there's also other very good exhibits of the finalists of the annual Hasselblad award. Some young and talented photographers.

See the website for additional information.

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Mariatorget
(the Maria Square) is a square and a city park in Södermalm,
The square faces the street of Hornsgatan to the north,
and the street of S:t Paulsgatan to the south.
The street Swedenborgsgatan, named after Emanuel Swedenborg,
starts there and continues southwards.
A bust of the same Swedenborg is also situated in the park.
The central fountain is crowned by a sculpture by Anders Henrik Wissler,
Tors fiske (Thor fishing), depicting the Norse god
Thor slaying the sea serpent Jörmungandr.
I used to come here a lot because I used to run a gallery
for about a year and a half in nearby Maria Prástgárdsgaten 2.

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Neighbourhoods and parishes

Södermalm is roughly divided into the following neighbourhoods (from west to east):

* Högalid (western area):
o Bergsund
o Drakenberg
o Heleneborg
o Tantolunden
o Zinkensdamm
* Maria Magdalena (mid-northern area):
o Mariaberget
o Mariatorget
o Slussen
o Södra stationsområdet
* Åsö (mid-southern area):
o Eriksdal
o Helgalund
o Medborgarplatsen
o Rosenlund
o Skanstull
* Katarina-Sofia (north-eastern area):
o Blecktornsområdet
o Danvikstull
o Ersta
o Norra Hammarbyhamnen
o Nytorget
o Mosebacke

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Stockholm is such a modern city made up of
a collection of many small and large islands connected
together by by roads, bridges and an underground metro.
Sődermalm covers the large island formerly called "Åsön".
With a population of about 100 000, it is one of the most
densely populated districts of Scandinavia.
Moving to Sweden aged 21 I spent many a Summers night
and early morning wandering about the small streets and
side streets leading to incredible places one just could not imagine
could exist. Some places made me think that time had stood still
and preserved the buildings and area like a well hidden secret.

Södermalm was mainly a rural, agricultural area. Its first urban areas were planned and built in the mid 17th century, comprising a mixture of working class housing, such as the little red cottages that can still to be seen in northeastern Södermalm, and the summer houses and pavilions of wealthier families, such as Emanuel Swedenborg's pavilion, which is to be seen in the outdoor museum Skansen. During this time, it was also the location of perhaps the first theatre in Scandinavia, Björngårdsteatern. Södermalm is often poetically named "Söders höjder", which reflects its topography of sheer cliffs and rocky hills. Indeed the hills of Södermalm provide remarkable views of Stockholm's skyline.

In the 18th century, the working-class cottages that clung to Mariaberget, the steep cliffs facing Riddarfjärden, were replaced by the large buildings that are still present today. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that urbanisation grasped the entire width of Södermalm, and even today parts of Södermalm have a rural feeling to them, as for instance the landscape of tiny allotments that climb the slopes of Eriksdal.

Today I noticed that most of the elderly population have been replaced by young
families and single people who either work or students.

Also, rather than being known as a slum, Södermalm is now known as home of bohemian, alternative culture and a broad range of cultural amenities. Meanwhile, the growing demand of housing, as well as an increasing gentrification of Stockholm's central parts, makes apartments in Södermalm more and more difficult or expensive to come by. Thus what was once a working-class district is now somewhat a district of the privileged

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The landscape between Stockholm's central station and Märsta station never makes me bored. I can see from rails where other trains go to other destinations, trees and fields, beautiful houses, lake Mälaren and now a viking ship. I discovered this ship when the train stopped due to ... (the "..." is because they don't bother to give you an explanation of why the train stopped) and I looked out the window.

The ship is located between Upplands Väsby and Märsta, but I don't know how to get to the ship by foot (since it's located in the middle of the woods), who built it or why - which is why I wouldn't recommend you take the commuter train to Märsta only to glimpse the ship (I'll do that for you). However, do it if you're visiting Sigtuna, which is very interesting in itself.

You'll see the ship the best if you sit on the window seats on the left side of the train, if it's going towards Märsta, and on the right side if you're going towards Stockholm.

The pictures of the boat aren't the best because I found it quite difficult to picture it while the train was moving at 100 km/h :)

Edit Sept 2009: the viking ship has been moved and now can be seen along the E4 right before passing by Upplands Väsby.

The water in and araound Stockholm is usualy clean enough to swimm. There are several places (on the tourist maps) where you can find swimming facilities, like a shower. We went to the island of langholmen for a refreshing swim.
Tube station: Fridhemsplan