Island Drive & Visby Museum
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Port
Visby, Gotland, Sweden
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$139.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Visby is an outstanding example of a Northern European walled Hanseatic town, which in a unique way has preserved its townscape and its extremely valuable buildings. The town wall is more than two miles long and encircles the old stone houses, churches and street system.
Your tour begins with a visit to the old Hanseatic harbor at Almedalen, where you can see the oldest remaining structure in Visby -- the Kruttornet powder tower.
Take a short walk through the narrow streets, before arriving at the historical Gotland Museum. Here you'll find 8,000 years of the region's rich cultural history is on display, from the Stone Age to the Viking Period, from the Medieval Period to the modern age.
Re-board your coach for a panoramic drive through the agriculture district southwest of
Visby. You will visit one of the many fine examples of rural medieval churches that can be found on Gotland.
Continue through the countryside to Gnisvärd -- a picturesque old fishing village. The Gnisvärd Ship Grave dates from the Bronze Age (about 600 BC). The grave consists of stones standing on their edges in the form of a ship. It was believed that the metaphoric ship would carry the departed chieftains on their voyage to eternity.
Return to the pier relaxed and informed.
Notes:
Participants will encounter cobblestone streets in Visby and some uneven terrain elsewhere. Wear comfortable walking shoes.