Stockholm

We will start our Stockholm-adventure at the Royal Swedish Opera by finding out that the opera was built in 1773 but it wasn’t active until 1782 and served for a century before being replaced at the end of the 19th century. Both houses are officially called the "Royal Opera”. Pass the Parliament in order to reach Normalmstorg and find out how it became associated with the well-known „ Stockholm Syndrome” after a robbery and hostage situation in the early 1970’s. Our next point of interest is the City Hall and Royal Palace, with its 608 rooms, where we will stop for photos of the symbols of the city known as the three crowns. If we are lucky, we can admire the changing of the Royal Guard, one of Stockholm's most popular attractions. Head for Gamla Stan which is Stockholm Old Town and one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centers in Europe, to find out the history of the Viking People. Walk to Stockholm Cathedral, founded in the mid-1200s and rebuilt many times since, to see the exterior of St George and the Dragon, the most celebrated sculpture here, dating from 1489. After a short pleasant stroll through the heart of the old town we reach the interesting Riddarholmen, Södermalm and Slussen districts to discover more about the city’s medieval and recent past. Now it's time to admire Stortorget, the city's oldest town square, with charming North German-style houses. This plaza has a dark history: it is site of the Stockholm Blood Bath of 1520 when Christian II of Denmark beheaded 80 Swedish noblemen and displayed a "pyramid" of their heads in the square. It’s time to say goodbye but not before the Fika (own expense), a traditional coffee-break, where you can use the opportunity to ask your guide questions regarding Stockholm history.