Would you like to tour Northern Europe this summer? Summer is the best time of year to walk around here without freezing and the landscapes come alive. One of the most curious and special destinations that we can visit are the Islas Aland.
The Alands are a autonomous region of Finland where Swedish is predominantly spoken .. They rest at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia, in the Baltic SeaAnd while there is a main island that concentrates the bulk of the population, there are thousands of islands and islets more where practically no one lives. Beyond, almost 40 kilometers from the open sea, is the coast of Sweden. With so much water around it is not by chance that its name in primitive Norwegian means Land of Water.
The Aland Islands
Humans arrived on these distant, cold islands seven thousand years ago when the islands re-emerged from the depths after being entombed by continental ice during the last Ice Age. Hunters and gatherers first, later farmers, later still came into contact with the Vikings from whose passage there have been ruins, tombs and castles.
In the thirteenth century they were incorporated into the Swedish Empire and then Sweden handed them over to Russia so later they became part of the Grand Duchy of Finland. At the time of the Crimean War, the English and French were here and after the defeat of Russia all the islands were demilitarized and remain so to this day. In 1919 its people formally asked to separate from Finland and join Sweden.
They did not make it but it was decided that the Aland Islands were an independent, autonomous territory, with its own representation in the Finnish government. They weren't even in danger in WWII. Today they have their own stamps, their own police, and even their own airline, Air Aland.
Tourism in the Aland Islands
As I said above most of the population lives on Fasta Island, seat of the capital Mariehamn. Fasta is the largest island of the group and is just over a thousand square kilometers in area. Its economy is based on cargo ships, trade and tourism. In that order.
But do they speak Swedish or Finnish here? Most speak SwedishIt is the official language and the first language of more than 90% of the people. Finnish speak very few. How to get to the Aland Islands? For by ferry. The ferry connects the islands with the mainland and the Finnish region of Turunmaa. The best of all is that passengers travel free. Yes, for free! If you travel by car you must pay a little and make the corresponding reservation but you do travel on foot because you travel for free. Cool!
The gateway to the islands is the town of Mariehamn, a charming port city that can be easily explored on foot or by rental bike. Also by bus, but not so much fun. You get off at the port and walking 10 minutes you get to the center. A charming boulevard is the main artery, it is surrounded by trees and lined with old buildings among which the old St. Göran Church stands out. Right in front is the tourist office so you can stop in and do some research.
Most the shops, cafes and restaurants are located on the pedestrian street of Torggatan, in the central area of the city. Here is the Parliament, the City Hall and other government buildings. And if you see the statue of a woman, take a photo, because for her the city is called Mariehamn: it is Tsarina Maria Aleksandrovna. As I said before it is better to go in summer because the city has a lot of green and you can enjoy its parks and the beach, the port and the marina.
There are many boat-restaurants, many sightseeing tours to do by bike or by boat and one can explore the city on foot or adjust to the public transport system. There are buses that go north and others to the south. They operate hourly in the summer and during business hours. They cost 2 euros and allow you to go all the way around. For a more scenic tour you can hop on the Röde Om mini train, but it only works in summer.
Another interesting visit is the Aland Maritime History Museum which is situated in Västerhamn. It is a two-story building entirely dedicated to the maritime trade that is the leitmotif of the islands. There is a ship simulator, of an English ship from 1936, so you get into the captain's cabin and it moves and everything, and there is also an exhibition of curiosities that the sailors of the islands have brought from their travels. Engines, scale models, activities for children add to the experience. It is actually a very well thought out museum.
And for the same ticket you can go to see the Pommern, a four-masted steel ship which is in original condition. It is unique in the world and every summer since 1957 it works as a museum. This ship built in Glasgow for a German company was launched in 1903 and was bought in 1923 by a sailor named Erikson, owner of the largest commercial fleet in the world. It sailed until 1939 and carried grain between Australia and England.
Do some ride aboard the ferry is what you have to do to get a good idea of what the islands are like. And since it is free, it is almost mandatory from a tourist point of view. There are many destinations: Föglö, Sottunga, Kökar, for example. Each destination has its charms but I would not leave without visiting the ruins of the XNUMXth century Franciscan monastery in Kötlar (just two hours by ferry), or the Bronze Age settlement of Otterböte, for example, both in Kökar.
The truth is that the beautiful Aland Islands can give us an incredible glimpse of Nordic culture in general, of its nature, its cuisine and its history. They are between Sweden and Finland and have their roots in Russian history as well. Monasteries, castles, fortresses, their ruins are here and there. Its natural landscapes allow us to enjoy outdoor adventures such as hiking, biking, kayaking or diving in icy waters. The gastronomy also deserves to be commented because the menus based on fish and shellfish, the craft beers and chocolates made with cocoa brought from South America are among what you have to try.
If you do not know the Aland Islands but they attract you, I recommend visit the official tourism website to gather more information and schedule your trip. The site is great and gives you practical information on how to travel there and between island and island, what to eat, what to do, where to sleep, maps and a complete calendar of events. Visit Aland!