Uddens gränd in Visby, Gotland
This time in Streets &Squares we visit Sweden, and the island of Gotland. And even more precisely the Hanseatic city Visby on the western shore of the island. Visby has been on the map since the 10th century. So, lots of history here, and we get right on it! But before that, perhaps you want to get to the feeling of it all with this video about the medieval Visby: Visby’s Last Stand
As always, clicking on the address links leads you to Google Maps, and clicking on the names to the person’s Wikipedia page.
Some vocabulary to help you out here: gata (street), gränd (alley)
Erik XIII:s gränd -Eric of Pomerania (1382-1459) King of Denmark, Sweden and Norway/later Duke of Pomerania – Rügenwalde, Pommern (1459/c. 77) - StreetView
Kung Magnus väg - Magnus III of Sweden (c. 1240-1290) King of Sweden (1275-1290), and the second son of Birger Jarl. During his 1288 trip to Visby, he fined the city for having built the city wall without permission.- StreetView
Lythbergs väg - Matthias Lythberg (1685-1745) was a wealthy merchant and civil servant, born and active in Visby- StreetView
Polhemsgatan - Christopher Polhem (1661-1751) was a Swedish scientist, inventor and industrialist who was born in Tingstäde, Gotland - StreetView
[S:t Göransgatan](T GÖRANSGATAN) - Saint George (270/280-303) of Greek origin he was member of the Praetorian Guard for Roman emperor Diocletian, and became one of the most venerated saints and megalomartyrs in Christianity. Born in Cappadocia - StreetView
[S:t Klemensgatan](T KLEMENSGATAN) - Pope Clement I (35-99) a.k.a. Saint Clement. He was considered a patron saint of mariners. Born in Rome, Roman Empire - StreetView
[S:t Lars gränd](T LARS GRÄND) - Saint Lawrence (225-258) one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman Emperor Valerian ordered in 258. Born in Valencia, Hispania. StreetView
[S:t Michaels gränd](T MICHAELS GRÄND) - Saint Michael, is an Archangel in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Said to be the Protector of the Jewish people, Guardian of the Catholic Church, Vatican City, police officers and military. StreetView
[S:t Nikolaigatan](T NIKOLAIGATAN) - Saint Nicholas (270-343) Christian bishop. His legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus (“Saint Nick”). Born in Patara, Roman Empire - StreetView
[S:t Olofs gränd](T OLOFS GRÄND) - Olaf II of Norway (995-1030) King of Norway, later known as St. Olaf. His sainthood encouraged the widespread adoption of Christianity by Scandinavia’s Vikings/Norsemen. Born in Ringerike, Norway - StreetView
Tage Cervins gata - Tage Cervin (1892-1971) was a Stockholm banker who donated money for the maintenance of the Visby City Wall - StreetView
Valdemarsgatan - Valdemar IV Atterdag (1320-1375) was King of Denmark born in Helsingør, Kingdom of Denmark. In 1361 he conquered Gotland, adding “King of Gotland” to his title list. StreetView
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aam0LTtddec
A to Z FROM Visby
i.e. a list of people born in Visby. Just another fun way to know something more of the city, picking one single person for each alphabet. Only the year of birth given here. To be continued.
A - Alexander Ahl Holmström* football player (1999)
B - Carl Johan Bergman* school teacher/writer/politician (1817) - Karl-Gustaf Björk* middle-distance runner (1906)
C -
D -
E -
F -
G - Alexander Gerndt* football player (1986)
H -
I -
J -
K - Victor Kullberg* horologist/one of London’s most famous watchmakers (1824)
L - Håkan Loob* hockey player/3GC (1960)
M - Jesper Mattsson* football player (1968)
N - Gunnar Nilsson* athlete (discus) (1889) - Mattias Nilsson* hockey player (1994)
O -
P - Hjördis Petterson* actress (1908)
R -
S - Gabriella Samuelsson* athlete (runner) (1987) -
T -
U -
V
Updated 20.7.2022
LINKS
https://geographic.org/streetview/sweden/gotland/gotland/visby.html
https://helagotland.se/familj/foreningsbrev/gatunamn-i-visby-13217867.aspx