The Swedish capital was founded on one of an archipelago of islands off Sweden’s coast in the Baltic and has since spread over 13 more. The original island is now called Gamla Stan which translates to the Old City. Gamla Stan has winding built up streets and long-established restaurants and boutiques which surround the old palace. Approximately 24,000 islands make up the archipelago, most can be reached by boat from Stockholm. Some are deserted except for a smattering of wild flowers, while others have villages or tourist facilities. Sailing, swimming and fishing are popular activities in the region and locals say the water is clean enough to swim in the heart of the city.

In the nineteenth century it became very popular to have a summer house somewhere in the less cosmopolitan parts of the archipelago. Two of the most popular islands to visit are Vaxholm, which has a scenic traditional harbour town with a 16th Century fortress (now a museum.) and Bjorko, which was one of the first inhabited parts of Sweden and is of great archaeological and historical interest because of its 1,200 year history of trade with the rest of Europe.

Beauty On Water.

Written by  Lindsay Drury.

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