Malmö – Sweden’s Lively Multicultural City

Malmö is Sweden’s third city, a lively, multicultural place with a population of about 320,000 and a bubbling restaurant scene. In the 16^th century, Malmö competed with Copenhagen to be Scandinavia’s leading capital. Read more about Malmö – Sweden’s lively multicultural city.

Malmö was an important port, not far from rich fishing grounds. Today, the harbor is still busy and many of the old buildings remain. Malmöhus, the dominating castle built by King Christian III when Skåne was still part of Denmark, is Scandinavia’s oldest remaining Renaissance castle. It houses the Malmö Museer (Malmö Museums), which include the Art Museum, history exhibitions, an aquarium, the Science and Technology/Maritime Museum and the Kommendants Hus (Commander’s House).

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Malmö City Hall
From the same period is Rådhus (City Hall), which you will find in Stortorget, one of the largest squares in Scandinavia. It was built in 1546 in genuine Dutch Renaissance style. In 1860 it was given a facelift with niches, bays, allegorical paintings and colonnades.

Northeast from Stortorget is St. Petri Kyrka (St Peter’s Church), built in the Baltic Gothic style and dating from the 15^th century, although its towers were built in the 15^th century and its copper spires in 1890. This elegant cathedral features a beautiful altar area created by sculptors in 1611.

The Small Square
A particular idyllic place to sit and relax is Lilla Torg, with its cobblestones, carefully restored houses and 16^th-century charm. Through an arch on the south side of the square is Hedmanska Gården. Once a merchant’s home and trading yard, it now houses the Form/Design Center, where Swedish industrial design and handcrafts are displayed.

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Walking east from Lilla Torg, make sure you don’t miss Malmö’s exciting new cultural hub, the Moderna Museet, which opened at the end of 2009. This former power station now contains one of the most comprehensive 20^th century art collections in Scandinavia, and host-changing exhibitions of local and international artists.

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Malmö – Sweden’s Lively Multicultural City
Malmö’s most impressive modern building is without doubt the Turning Torso. Sweden’s tallest building at 190 meters (620 ft), designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. This unique structure, which twists 90 degrees from bottom to top, has revitalized the West Harbor area of the city, now a popular summer dining spot.

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Malmö – Sweden’s Lively Multicultural City, written by Tor Kjolberg