Along The Western Coast...

Il 14 dicembre

ms Trollfjord

Sunday began with a  morning walk in Trondheim, Norway's third largest city and its historical capital, founded by the Viking ruler, King Olav Trygvason in 997 as a trading post. Nestled by a fjord and surrounded by hills and mountains further inland, Trondheim is known as Norway's “Best Student Town” as every sixth person here is a student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. On this December morning, however, all was quiet and few people were seen; the air was cold, snow was on the ground, and the streets were decorated with XMAS lights.

Our first stop was the Old Town Bridge, originally built of wood in 1681, but reconstructed almost 200 years later, and connecting the two banks of the River Nidelven.  Nicknamed “The Portal of Happiness, the bridge has become a symbol of Trondheim and is one of its most photographed sites.

The Nidaros Cathedral, the second largest church of northern Europe, looms over the city center. This is Norway's national sanctuary and, although ravaged by fire on several occasions after its initial construction began in 1070, it was rebuilt each time The cathedral, built over Saint Olav's grave, is simply majestic and a testimony to the reverence the Norwegian people have for their patron saint.