Malmö

From the Faroe Islands to Malmö! Transitioning to a contemporary city from the small town place of the islands is an interesting shock to the system.

Malmö was founded in the 1250s as a fortified wharf for the Archbishop of Lund. For centuries it served as one of the most important commercial cities in Denmark before it was ceded to Sweden in 1658.

We walked around Gamla Staden, the old town that serves as the cute historic heart of the city. It is centered around Stortorget, which was the largest city square in Scandinavia at the time of its construction in the 1540s. Nearby is Lilla Torg, which is a smaller cobblestone square lined with half timbered houses that now serve as restaurants and galleries.

Nearby, Sankt Petri Kyrka stands as the oldest building in Malmö and is a masterpiece of Brick Gothic architecture and simple Scandinavian aesthetic. Construction began in 1319 using red Baltic bricks to create a towering nave that reaches a height of 30 meters (98 feet).

Late morning lattes and cardamom buns were had at Solde Kaffebar, one of the top rated coffee shops in town.

For fika (and dinner) we visited St. Jakobs Stenugnsbageri in the Malmö Saluhall, which is located in a refurbished 19th century freight station. The food hall brings together local artisanal producers and international flavors ranging from traditional Swedish herring to specialty sourdough bakeries. The architecture preserves the original brickwork while incorporating modern steel and glass elements to create a social hub for the city.

After fika, we walked towards Scaniaparken and the Turning Torso. The city skyline is dominated by the Turning Torso. Designed by Santiago Calatrava and completed in 2005, it was the tallest building in Scandinavia until recently, reaching a height of 190 meters (623 feet). The design is based on a twisting human silhouette and consists of nine segments that rotate a full 90 degrees from the base to the top.Read more