SWEDEN
Sweden on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe. The name Sweden was derived from the Svear, or Suiones, a people mentioned as early as 98 CE by the Roman author Tacitus. The country’s ancient name was Svithiod. Stockholm has been the permanent capital since 1523. Geologically, it is one of the oldest and most stable parts of the Earth’s crust.
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Stockholm traces its origins back seven centuries, when it was founded and became the capital of Sweden. The skyline is a sea of copper roofs grown green with patina, towers, spires and cupolas stand sentinel over the historic Old Town which is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe. Stockholm is not just a beautiful city but also Sweden’s center of art and culture.
Gothenburg is Sweden’s second largest city – and the largest port in Scandinavia – was founded by King Gustavus Adolphus in 1621 at the mouth of the Göta River. Gustavus Adolphus hired Dutch architects and builders to lay out Gothenburg, so it should come as no surprise that the city is laced with a network of gracious canals lined with elegant buildings. Like all great seaports, Gothenburg is a cosmopolitan city with a wealth of cultural attractions. The city is also the gateway to the archipelagoes and picturesque fishing villages of Sweden’s West Coast – the country’s favorite vacation playground.
