Gotland: The island of roses and ruins
Sweden’s largest island; A true Mediaeval treasure
A tiny green jewel with a gigantic past, surrounded by a vast dark blue sea whose waters are neither salty nor sweet. An ancient island filled with mediaeval treasures still to be discovered, in a place where secrets ceased to exist, long ago.
Situated in the Baltic Sea, we find Sweden’s largest island. Even though it is located in relative proximity to the mainland, culturally it is light years apart. In fact, there is almost nothing that connects its independent and colourful history to that of the rest of the strict and grey motherland.
Among other Swedish provinces, it has always been an ugly duckling. With its underground caves, gorgeous sea shell-filled sandy beaches, lushly green forests and fresh blue sweet water lagoons Gotland is almost tropical, at least in these latitudes. Squint your eyes on a hot summer day and you could be in the Mediterranean.
The island enjoys a warm and mild climate most of the year, roses have been known to bloom here as late as November. Besides, a journey to Gotland is a step back in time. It is a very ancient land, as proof, we find fossil-filled, naturally sculpted “Raukar”, these mysterious figures tell stories from prehistory. Pictured stones containing runic letters reveal the…
