The Ruins of Visby

Sweden, you continue to impress. I had such an interesting time visiting the Old Town of Visby, the famed home of Pippi Longstocking on the island of Gotland, Sweden. Visby was an invaluable trading port in the Baltic Sea area during the Middle Ages, complete with a limestone defensive wall built around the city. Visby could have been just a nice walk through a medieval village, if it had not been for the many ruins!

Most of these ruins were originally churches built between the 13th and 16th centuries ( I know, that is a large chunk of time!), and the Old Town of Visby has embraced their ample tourist attractions in the chillest way. Instead of a "these-are-extremely-old-do-not-touch-or-else" mentality, Visby says,

"Here is a 16th century church ruin. Would you like to enjoy a meal with wifi inside this ancient courtyard?"

The red-shingled, triangular roofs of houses run on winding, cobblestoned streets in and around the ruins. These historic remains are completely integrated into the normal lifestyle of those who live within the medieval city wall, so much so that you can have your wedding in one. Here are some deets on my favorite ruins:

St. Catherine's

St. Catherine's was the first ruin that I came across during my exploration of Visby. Catherine's is next to an open square where there is often a market taking place. When I walked into the ruin, I was inspired by the openness of it all, a sentiment I imagined would have remained with me if the roof had still been intact. A café has been built up against one of the original walls, which I can't believe. Then again, I can, because it is Sweden. They're chill here.

St. Lawrence

Ooooh, If St. Catherine's is light, St. Lawrence is all dark and mysterious. St. Lawrence is the only Byzantine-style church in Visby, built in the 13th century. The remarkable thing about this ruin is that the public has access to passageways that take you up to the second level of the church. I had a fun time waving to a little girl and her dad across the way, until we met and crossed paths somewhere in the middle. I also had a fun time scaring my friend Dean from behind a dark, spooky corner.

Drotten Church

This church has a beautiful design, and I was most struck by the missing ceiling at the front of the church. The trees had grown almost up and over the remaining walls. Moss and other foliage covered the curving stone, illuminated by the light of the sun. It felt special to be inside of this ruin.

St. Clemen's

The Hotel St. Clemen's has taken up residence in and around the old St. Clemen's church. This charming charming bed and breakfast also provides the roaming tourist with an opportunity to enjoy coffee, a bun, and wifi right outside the ruin. I sat at a picnic table for a few hours, writing, basking in the sun, and enjoying the ebb and flow of people checking in and out of the hotel. This ruin is also a wedding venue, if you're interested.

St. Olof

This little ruin is located to the side of the Botanical Garden (more on that below!), and it really does remind me of Olaf, the snowman. It is short, rotund, and has a distinct personality. However, in the 13th century, it used to be the biggest church in Visby! All that is left is part of the west tower. The stonework of the ceiling definitely showcases Olof's age; take a look at that!

Other Visby Items

If you every find yourself in Gotland, you must try the famous, traditional saffron pancakes, served with whipped cream and jam. The pancakes are more like a very soft bar cookie (think brownies), made from rice and saffron. Before you shake your head in disbelief, we must remember that Visby was a port that received many worldly items on the regular. If you have a sh*t-ton of leftover rice pudding because you didn't know how much a cup of rice would yield, what do you do with it? That's right, you make pancakes and a legacy is born. I wouldn't say they were my favorite, but saffron pancakes are a good try.

Visby has a HUGE ice cream store down by the water!

They make their gelato in house, which is what I indulged in. I tried limoncello, pistachio, and saffron cookie. The store itself is incredible, check in out!

The Botanical Gardens, right across the way from St. Clemen's, are beautiful. I don't have much else to say, other than it takes 15 minutes to stroll through, and do not accidentally get yourself locked in the public restroom there. We had a passenger and his wife get stuck and had to chase down the Swedish police. The policeman was very helpful, by the way!

Finally, the Visby Cathedral is the one remaining church that is not in a dilapidated state. I did a short research project on why, and it turns out that in the mid-1300s, after the Black Plague, a Danish invasion, and a decrease in trade, Visby was in a state of decline. All monasteries were outlawed, minus the Visby Cathedral, hence the many ruins. As a result, Visby Cathedral seems to be the pride and joy of the town. It truly is a beauty, and runs purely on donations.