My summer trip 2014 - The Island of Gotland

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The island of Gotland - Sweden - All photos on http://www.francescoinviaggio.it

July 13, 2014 (405 km) Finally came the day of departure for one of the destination I had in mind for some time, the island of Gotland in Sweden. This year will be our short but intense journey in motion. The morning starts "good" with a nice storm! We have to walk 375 km up to the town of Oskarshamn and then cruising to the island and arrive at Visby. 10 hours is part of torrential rain that will not forsake us even 10 minutes! We choose to lengthen the route of about 35 km taking the highway via Helsingborg in such a way to go quickly about 180 km. A Ljungby leave the highway, passing through a beautiful wooded area full of lakes. The continuous rain slowed us down a lot and does not allow us to make great stops except for refueling and at 15.00 we have the ferry. Finally at 14.45 we are boarding in the company of other bikers. The rain has no intention of giving us a bit 'of ceasefire but you always have to put in account for a motorcycle trip. Finally we board a little '"wet" and hungry! The crossing takes about 3 hours under a dark sky and gray. There is no desire to go out on deck for a few photos but to make a nice cup of hot coffee and a good movie on the life of Steve Jobs, founder of Apple make the time pass quickly and less than no time we are ready for landing at Visby. Fortunately the rain stopped. We booked the accommodation in Slite, about 36 km from Visby at the Gothem Logi http://www.gothemlogi.se/ a nice family run guest house set in the countryside of Gotland next to a magnificent church. Once we settled our luggage we feel all the tiredness of the day. A nice hot shower and a short walk through the gardens of the church just to have an idea, then straight to bed tomorrow starts the real holiday.





July 14, 2014 (km145) It took her a good night's sleep to regain his strength! We have breakfast in the dining room of the board. There is a fully equipped kitchen. Of course you can not miss the Italian coffee and my mocha! The weather has definitely improved and it does not rain. The day begins with the beautiful church of Ghotem adjacent guest house, one of the most impressive of the island. Its interior has frescoes from the 1300s After the visit, take your bike and head to Visby. Its historic center declared a world heritage site alone is worth a visit to this' island. We park near the Xpress Copenhagen, one of the gates of the city with ample free parking reserved for motorcycles. The sky is gray and remade it starts to drizzle, nothing to worry about but the rain is a must. The historic center is presented in all its glory. A mighty wall spanning almost 4 km, small cobbled streets, alleys, picturesque wooden houses and especially the spectacular ruins of 10 churches all located within the city center. It begins with the Sankt Karins Kyrka founded by the Franciscans in 1233 in the Gothic style on the main square.

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Impressive, majestic its ruins, and then continue with the Sankt Nicolai Kyrka, the Helge And Kyrka, the Drotten Kyrka, the Sankt Lars Kyrka, the Sankt Clemens Cyrka, in short, a dip in the splendor and wealth of the Middle Ages, and that made it famous important to this city. Beautiful botanical garden, a rose garden to be envied. The scent of roses is intoxicating. We take advantage of a small kiosk for a break and something to eat. The sky is still overcast but the rain stopped. We arrived in the imposing cathedral, the Sankta Maria Kyrka built between the XII and XIII century. the only one of the churches remained intact. Its interior is full of valuable works of art and stands out among all magnificent wooden altarpiece carved. Time has passed quickly, and finally the sun peeping through the clouds. We want to spend even half a day to the city center with another calm day, as well as the weather has improved we decided to take a ride around Visby. The first stop is the beautiful church of Bro. The sun is shining, and finally returned to the church shows itself in all its splendor. Inside the magnificent painted stones of the fifth century. and countless colorful stucco adorn the walls. Shortly after we head towards the ruins of Romakloster, an old Cistercian monastery of the twelfth century. now in ruins but still very picturesque. On the road sign indicates an unusual location "Rome"! Do not miss a photo. Shortly after we head towards the imposing church of Garde, but it is too late for a visit inside, all the churches close at 18.00 and it's almost 19, by the way the weather has returned to the whims and starts to rain . Just in front of the church there is a pitch to the bus stop with a small wooden hut, what better place for a coffee time! Driving rain is falling but we do not care that much. A good tea for my wife and a coffee with chocolate treats make this unique moment. The gas cooker and coffee maker are never lacking! Satisfied we can also wear the rain and do return to the hotel. A nice dinner to finish with a flourish and a little 'ping pong to digest!

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July 15, 2014 (350 km) After two days with the weather throwing a tantrum at last to greet a beautiful sunny day, 24 degrees and a clear sky a deep blue. Hearty breakfast and we start to Ljugarn, a small seaside town to visit the Nature Reserve Folhammar which is characterized by some spectacular limestone formations or raukar (columns). The Rauk is nothing more than a rock that is formed following an abrasion process. A geological phenomenon that occurs when a relatively soft limestone is eroded from the surrounding sea and its core of harder limestone remains. The result is somewhat surprising and bizarre. From here we move to the village of Alskog to visit the church of Garde. Yesterday, the bad weather we had to appreciate the beauty of this church of the twelfth century. Magnificent four entrance porches and its extraordinary interiors. After the tour we travel a few kilometers to visit an ancient burial site dating back to the Bronze Age. It is Gålrum. 122 ancient megalithic formations of which 8 are in the shape of a ship. The site was in use for about 1500 years, and reflects different styles of burial that followed in the course of that long period. Then again, surrounded by the forest another megalithic site and finally Gannarve Skeppssättning near Klintehamn, a tomb shaped like a boat 29 meters long and 5 wide set in a picturesque landscape of the countryside of Gotland. We move to Lojsta, a very nice resort with great lakes and landscapes. Here we take the opportunity for a lunch break by the lake and rest for a while 'comfortably lying in a meadow of grass fragrant. We really wanted this moment to relax. After the inevitable coffee we head towards Hablingbo to visit the beautiful church of the XIII. Sec. Bellissimo floor adorned with bas-reliefs and doorways finely crafted. Then again the church of Öja 1232 with the tallest spire of all Gotland (67 meters). Its interior is magnificent. Of all the artwork stands out for its beauty and uniqueness a richly decorated wooden cross. Back on the bikes we head to the southern most point of Gotland along the west coast of the island. The scenery is lovely. Long road to an ancient stone processing industry, now converted into a museum. The road leads up towards a cliff from where you can admire a wonderful landscape. A few miles and arrive at the lighthouse on the island, a secluded but certainly worth a visit. Along the way back we stop at Visby. Just a stroll to the marina to watch the setting sun paint the orange of the old city walls. What a treat. Long day today but wonderfully beautiful. Now back to the hotel for a good dinner and a hot shower.

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July 16, 2014 (285 km) We woke up early and after a good cup of coffee and made breakfast we are ready to begin this day. The sky is blue and the sun is shining at the top, I would say that there is almost hot! It starts to Berläst an old industrial site founded in 1690 for the processing of limestone and lime production. The extraction of limestone began to Gotland in the Middle Ages. The site located right on the coast boasts the presence of three ancient kilns of which the oldest dates back to 1700 The place is really nice, with lots of area for the picnic. A classic example of how you can transform a disused industrial site in a place of tourist attraction. We take the opportunity to enjoy a little 'the sun and have a chat with a couple of Swedes. Back on the bikes we head towards Lickershamn, near the beach where you will find some raukar that reach 12 meters. height. Really impressive and bizarre shapes. Among all one in particular with a hole in the middle where you can easily switch from one side to the other. On the beach there is a small bar and a marina. It is very hot and people took the opportunity to take a dip in the water. From the beach there is a path that leads up a hill, where there is a large stone called the "Jungfru" on which there is a mysterious legend. In 1000, he lived in Lickershamn a rich and powerful man called Likajr and nicknamed "the wise." They had a daughter named Öllegård. One day the father came home after a long battle for the conquest of certain areas in the south of the Baltic Sea, bringing with him a young prisoner, the son of a chief defeated in battle, which was called Helgi and who grew up among the slaves. Soon between the daughter of Likajr, Öllegård and the young love was born. The father did not like this thing, so he decided to put an end to this love story. One day in autumn Likajr organized a big party down at the harbor. Before the party, had allowed his men with the help of long ladders to raise her daughter Öllegård rauken on top of the large rock placed at the mouth of the gulf. So gathered all the guests and solemnly proclaimed aloud that if Helgi had managed to bring down the daughter of the great rock, he could marry her. Helgi accepted the challenge and began to climb the cliff quickly. He was agile and fearless, and soon reached Öllegård. He decided to come down from the wall overlooking the sea, in this manner if they slipped or if he lost grip of his beloved, would have fallen into the water and not on the rocks. At this point, the girl's father thought that the young man could do it. Suddenly an arrow hit him in the head, the young Helgi. He was the father fearful of having to fulfill its promise. The two young men fell into the sea where it disappeared beneath the waves. The men of the powerful Likajr tried in vain to save his daughter, but his body is that of the young Helgi were never found. The place is lovely but this legend makes it even more fascinating. We take the opportunity to have lunch with a good sandwich with extraordinary sea views. To re icing on the cake with mocha coffee and chocolate chip cookies. What a sight! Back on the bikes we move towards Lärbro to visit the beautiful church of 1260 Its octagonal bell tower dates back to the 1300s Stupendi frescoes inside. To the west of the church, a defense tower, which dates back to XII. Sec. Resume the bike and head to the small island of Fårö north of Gotland. A free ferry connects it to the larger island every half hour. We enjoy the crossing under a beautiful sun and a deep blue sea. Once landed through an area full of old windmills. The island is wild and mysterious. Here the Swedish director Ingmar Bergaman fascinated by this place you turned seven films and now buried in this island. There is also a small museum dedicated to him. We head pours the wild Langhammarshammaren, a place well known for its long pebble beach but also for the magnificent and huge raukar spread a little 'everywhere. Some are really huge and one in particular is very much like the head of a man, vaguely reminiscent of a moai on Easter Island. Truly a place not to be missed, one of the most beautiful so far seen in Gotland. Time passes quickly in this wonderful place and unfortunately it is time to go. Waiting for the ferry we visit the small church of Fårö, built around 1500/1600. Within a few votive ships that tell the story of Jons Langhammar and his son Lars that in 1620, during the seal hunt, went adrift on a sheet of ice for weeks but were saved by the inhabitants of Stockholm. So the father as recognition promised to give his daughter's hand in marriage to the son of one of the rescuers. Stories of the past! Once you get back on the main island, we make a brief stop at Bungemuseet, an outdoor museum that preserves some homes built between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. with much of the original furniture. Unfortunately, the museum is about to close and there is nothing left to give you a quick peek. We return to Visby. The setting sun lights up in orange around the old town and its beautiful walls. We cover the entire circumnavigation of the walls, about 4 km and then get lost in the alleys, cobbled streets, old houses and beautiful buildings. The atmosphere in this city is simply sublime. We arrived at the port near one of the entrances to the city. The sunset is one of those that are not easily forgotten. A red fire that penetrates the soul and stays there for a long time. It's dinner time and there is nothing better than a good pizza to end the evening.

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