VENICE OF THE VIKINGS

When Birger Jarl, or as we would say, Earl Birger, laid the foundations of the Present city of Stockholm away back in the year 1255, he was only thinking of lts impregnability, and its possible commercial advantages. He selected three islands in the extensive watercourses which connect with Lake Malaren, behind a protecting barrier of hundreds of other elands. Here the plundering pirate could not reach him. His policy of safety has today provided a city site which is one of the most beautiful in Europe, for the city has grown from the original center island, the city between the bridges," as it is called, so as to cover a dozen islands. In the reign of Gustavus Adolphus, the archiectural influences of Rome and Venice were strongly reflected in the city, but whenever you wander about "the city between the bridges," the narrow thorougha.res flanked by tall plaster buildings, so similar, will recall the medieval and metropolis of Birger Jarl.