"Visby – Medieval City of Ruins and Roses " a Visby Travel Page by MikeAtSea

Visby is the capital of Gotland, Sweden’s largest island. The island in many respects is a completely separate country. It offers an exciting and varied environment, a meeting place between sea and land, nature and culture, past and presence.
The city a pearl in the Baltic Sea gained World Heritage status in 1995. For thousands of years, businessmen, landowners, Vikings, kings and noblemen have visited Visby.
The city grew rich as a member of the Hanseatic League, and became one of the leading cities in the Baltic Region in the 12th and 13th centuries. The city’s medieval architecture was dominated by majestic stone buildings, of which almost 200 survive today either partially or fully intact. Merchants’ houses with elegant stepped gables and Gothic façade decorations still stand proudly in various parts of the city.
Visby is also noted for its many 17th and 18th century half timber and thatched houses.

My visit to Visby coincided with the annual Medieval Festival that is held every August. When visiting the city then you are transformed back into Medieval Times with the entire town dressed up medieval and celebrations and functions recounting the glory times of times long gone by.