Arrival:
at 08:00
Departure:
at 17:00
Dramatic 13th-century city walls surround the former Viking settlement of Visby, Sweden. Recognized by UNESCO as the best-preserved medieval commercial center in Northern Europe, this quaint town of 20,000 residents, known as the "City of Roses and Ruins," is home to ancient forts, churches and winding streets lined with cafés and cozy cottages. The Gotlands Fornsal Museum explores 8,000 years of the region's rich cultural history, from the geological formation of Gotland through the Viking period to the modern age. A venture beyond the ancient walls takes you to the Hanseatic harbor of Almedalen, dotted by such historical sites as the Kruttornet (Powder Tower) and the Jungfrutornet (Maiden's Tower), or to scenic Dalmansporten, site of the 12th-century St. Mary Church, the only one of Visby's earliest churches to still be in use today. For those seeking the solace of the countryside, Gotland, Sweden's largest island, offers flowering meadows, pastoral views and the opportunity to experience the dairy products and sweet jams produced on local farms.