The island's capital, Visby (pop. 20,000), the "city of roses and ruins" on the northwest coast of Gotland, is the seat of the governor of Gotland county and the see of a bishop. Within its enclosing walls it has preserved much of its medieval atmosphere and received the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of its original 17 churches, only 10 survive as ruins and only one (St Mary's) is still used for worship. From the beginning of July to the middle of August Friedrich Mehler's mystery play (with music), "Petrus de Dacia", is performed in the ruins of St Nicholas's Church. A Medieval Week is held in August.
13th C walls surround the town of Visby, along with 44 towers at regular intervals. The walls, made of limestone, are an impressive sight, although they do have breaches.
From Visby's Church of the Holy Ghost, a side street goes past the remains of the little 15th century chapel of St Gertrude to the ruins of St Nicholas's Church, the largest in Visby, in which the mystery play "Petrus de Dacia" is performed. The church, which originally belonged to a Dominican monastery, was begun about 1230 and was destroyed by the Lübeckers in 1525. It has a beautiful rose window in the gable.
There is a very attractive walk (30 minutes) from the Norderport, past the ruins of the 13th century church of St Göran, which belonged to a leper hospital, to the Galgenberg (Gallows Hill), a medieval place of execution with three 6m/20ft high stone pillars, from which there are fine views of the town and the sea. Below the north side of the hill is the Trojaborg, a stone maze which was probably a very ancient cult site; its name recalls the old Roman "game of Troy".
On the northwest side of Visby, near Studentallén, lies the Botanic Garden (Botaniska Trädgården), at the south end of which are the ruins of the Romanesque church of St Olof (ca. 1200). In the Botanic Garden are beds of the roses for which Visby is renowned and which are also found climbing up the walls of its ruins.
Norra Kyrkogatan runs north from the Visby Cathedral to the ruined Romanesque church of the Holy Ghost (Helgeandskyrkan; 13th C.). This two-storied octagonal structure, of a type unusual in Scandinavia, shows the influence of German architecture. There was probably a bridge linking the upper story of the church with a hospital which stood close by.
From the Visby harbor Hamngatan leads to Donnersplatsen, with the Burmeisterska Hus, built in 1652 by a Lübeck merchant named Burmeister, which now houses a tourist information office. Diagonally opposite is the Post Office.
Southeast of Donnersplatsen are the ruins of the churches of St Per and St Hans, standing side by side. During excavations in 1917 under St Per, the older and smaller of the two, the foundations of three other churches were found.
From the beginning of July to the middle of August Friedrich Mehler's mystery play (with music), "Petrus de Dacia", is performed in the ruins of Visby's St Nicholas's Church.
The Gotland Museum of Art is a museum and an art hall, with exhibitions on three floors. The collection was originally founded in 1861. Today the major component is the Fürstenberg Gallery which houses the collection of Pontus Fürstenberg. Donated in 1901, it includes famous works by Per Hasselberg, Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn.
Address: Gotlands County Museum, Mellangatan 19, S-62156 Visby, Sweden
The Gotland Museum of Natural History highlights the rich flora and fauna of Gotland. Highlights include limestone and fossils to the shores of the Baltic Sea.
Address: Gotlands County Museum, Mellangatan 19, S-62156 Visby, Sweden
The Lybska Gränd leads from the Clematishus to the Visby Market Square (Stora Torget), on the south side of which are the ruins of St Catherine's Church (St Karin) of about 1230, which originally belonged to a Franciscan friary. To the north of the square, in St Hansgatan, are the ruined 13th century churches of the Trinity (Drotten) and St Lars, with massive towers which formed part of the town's defenses.
This festival includes various events, such as tours, concerts, plays and shows, on the island of Gotland. Hundreds of islanders participate in the festival by dressing in period costumes and making traditional crafts and food.
Address: Visby Festivals, Tranhusgatan 47, S-62155 Visby, Sweden
From Donnersplatsen Strandgatan leads to the Museum of Antiquities (Golands Fornsal), with a fine collection of Viking and medieval material, including tombstones and runic stones, arms and armor, furniture and religious art. Adjoining the museum is the Liljehornska Hus.
From here Packhusplan runs north to the Clematishus, near which is the Old Pharmacy (Gamla Apoteket), a 13th century house with a stepped gable (exhibition of arts and crafts).
To the sout of St Nicholas's Church, among houses, are the remains of the Romanesque church of St Clement, built in the middle of the 13th century. Excavations here brought to light the foundations of three earlier churches, the oldest of which, dating from the 12th century, was probably one of the first stone-built churches in Visby; fine south doorway. To the right of the church can be seen an old weapon-house, in which the men deposited their arms before entering the church.
Southeast of Visby (leaving by the Österport) is the Korsbetning (Cross Meadow), with the ruins of Solberga Abbey (1246). Here is the burial place of the Gotland peasants killed during the Danish conquest of the island in 1361, and the so-called Valdemar's Cross (Valdemarskors; 2.5m/8ft high, with a Latin inscription). Excavations in 1905 brought to light between 300 and 400 skeletons, together with arms and armor.
This annual five-week festival features 15 performances of quality operas in the St Nicholas Ruins. The festival was founded in 1929 by Friedrich Mehler as a showcase for his opera Petrus da Dacia, a story of Sweden's first author. The festival still holds annual performances of the work, along with a historical exhibit in the Visby Museum detailing the author's life and death.
Other operas are also performed by acclaimed companies including the Royal Stockholm Opera.
Address: Visby Festivals, Tranhusgatan 47, S-62155 Visby, Sweden
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Town Walls
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Town Walls, Visby
St Mary's Cathedral, Visby
Town Walls, Visby
St Mary's Cathedral, Visby
Town Walls, Visby
Town Walls, Visby
St Mary's Cathedral, Visby
