Stockholm, Sweden: The Charm of a Multi-Cultural Metropolis - Day 2


Accounting almost one-third of the entire GDP of the Swedish nation, Stockholm has became an important headquarters of major companies in the Scandinavian peninsula. This is the reason why immigrants have streamed in the Swedish metropolis in seek of better opportunities.  Due to this multicultural characteristic, Stockholm is unique in its own from other Nordic countries. This has led me to embark into a visit on the Swedish capital for two days.


1. Adolf Fredriks Kyrka

 This church is named after Adolf Frederick, who was controversial for failing to reacquire the Baltic provinces in favor of Sweden. The cemetery surrounding the church is where Rene Descartes, the mathematician who introduced the Cartesian coordinate system was buried.

 2. St. Johannes kykogård

 This church is one of the two experiment parishes of the Swedish diocese of Stockholm. Interestingly, the aim of the church is lessen the number of people who feel lonely. This somehow recognizes loneliness as one of the greatest problem plaguing the city population.

 3. Stureplan

 This is Stockholm’s high-end square. The buildings around the square house offices of banks and other financial institutions, as well as several corporate headquarters.

 4. Kungliga biblioteket and Humlegården

 It is a major park in Stockholm and the location of the Royal Library. A large status of Carolus Linnaeus, responsible for taxonomy in botany and considered the Father of Modern Ecology is found.

 5. Östermalms Saluhall

 Home of quality ingredients and cooked dishes from the Swedish and international cuisine, the Saluhall attracts tourists, aside from its cozy restaurants and dining areas.

 6. Hedvig Eleonara Kyrka

 This octagonal church, popular for weddings, christenings and funerals was named after Swedish queen Hedvig Eleonora, the wife of Charles X Gustav who made the Swedish empire larger to Poland and Lithuania.

 7. Dramaten

This is Sweden’s national stage for spoken drama. The view from the theatre complements with the Berzelii Park and Nybroplan in the vicinity.


 8. Berzelii Patrk and Raoul Wallenbergs torg

Raoul Wallenberg Square is a square located at Nybroplan in central Stockholm, named after the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who helped saved tens of thousands of Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary during the Holocaust.

 9. Nybroviken

 This is a small bay in central Stockholm. It is a departure point of ferries of various sizes to different areas in the city.


10. Kungliga Operan

 As Sweden’s national stage for opera and ballet. Further historically as well as architecturally important buildings in the close neighborhood are the Sager House, official residence of the Prime Minister of Sweden, and the Riksdag building.



 11. Kungsträdgården

 Located on the central region of Stockholm and adjacent with the Old Town and the Palace, the King’s Garden is the place of demonstrations of the left-wing and communist parties annually.

12. St. Jacobs kyrka

 Dedicated for the patron saint of travelers, Saint James the Greater. The church took a long time to complete, because of wide range of architectural styles, such as Late Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque.

13. Norrström

 Norrström in central Stockholm connects Lake Mälaren with the Baltic Sea. It runs from Riddarfjärden, north of Gamla stan.

14. Skeppsholmsbron

 This bridge was first made of wood the iron connects Blasieholmen to Skeppsholmen. These areas are adjacent of the tourist-renowned Old Town.

 15. Kungliga Slottet

 This is the official residence and principal workplace of the Swedish monarch. With this combination of royal residence, workplace and culture monuments open to visitors year's Royal Palace unique among the Europe's royal residences. The castle is built in baroque style. 





16. Finska kyrka

 This is actually a blind alley in Gamla Stan. The Finnish church is part of the Lutheran branch of Christianity.


 17. Stockholms Domkyrkoförsamling

 Stockholm Cathedral is a parish in Stockholm diocese. The present parish was founded in 1989 through the consolidation of the Great Church Assembly, Klara Parish and James parish.

18. Yttre borggården

 Outer courtyard of today's Royal Palace is the place where the main guard performs changing of the guard every day of the year, it is also here that the royal family now meets the people on the National Day and the King's birthday.


 19. Nobelmuseet and Stortorget

 Nobel Museum devoted for the Nobel laureates since 1901. According to the manifesto of the museum the intentions are to be a "reflecting and go-ahead spirited memory of the Nobel laureates and their achievements as well as of the Nobel Prize and Alfred Nobel". 


 20. Tyska kyrka

 Also known as the St. Gertrude’s church, the church was created by German merchants. Though there was an abundant number of German merchants and craftsmen in Stockholm during the Middle Ages, they didn't possess a separate site for their religious sermons until the Swedish king permitted them to hold separate sermons.


 21. Riddarhuset

 The House of Nobility or Knights is a corporation and a building that maintains records and acts in behalf of the Swedish nobility. 

 22. Riddarholmskyrkan

 As the burial church of the Swedish monarchs, this church is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Today, the church is no longer used for congregations, rather it is only for burial and commemorative purposes.

 23. Vasabron

 The bridge is named after King Gustav Vasa marked the end of the Kalmar Union of the Scandinavian countries, because of the vicinity to the statue of the king in front of the House of Knights.

 24. Strömsborg

 Strömsborg is part of Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm and is connected to the rest of the world by the bridge Strömsborgsbron leading over to Vasabron. It is the headquarter of the Swedish Sports Confederations for many years. 

25. Sta Clara Kyrka

 The Church of Saint Clare or Klara Church is a church in central Stockholm in the Klara area in lower Norrmalm. The Klara area takes its name from the church. 


 26. Hötorget and Stockholms Konserthus
During the daytime, this city square is the site of a fruit and vegetable market, except on Sundays, when flea markets are arranged.
My realization was tremendous after my two-day visit in the largest Swedish metropolis. The desire to come back again in the near future was undeniable. I knew that that city has more to offer and that two days would not enough to unveil the hidden treasures of the city.

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