Every visitor to the Swedish city of Malmo, who comes here by train, first of all, gets to the historic center. It is just a short walk from the train station. By the way, Malmo station is also a kind of attraction. Built in the middle of the 19th century, it is known for its unusual architecture. From the station, the road leads directly to the main city square, Stortorget.
Buried in verdure, Stortorget is the largest and oldest square in the city. Made in the middle of the 16th century, it has always attracted attention. It houses important administrative buildings, including the delightful City Hall, and charming beds with bright colorful flowers. Its center is occupied by a huge equestrian statue of the first king of Sweden, Charles X Gustav, dating back to the 17th century. This monument did not appear in the city of Malmo by chance. Once the Swedish king won Scania County from the powerful conqueror of Denmark. By immortalizing Charles X Gustav in bronze, the citizens expressed gratitude for their independence.
The statue of the Swedish king is not the only decoration of Stortorget Square. Bronze musicians with national instruments walk right on the paving stones, a few meters away from a unique bronze fountain. Many centuries ago, the central square of Malmo was the city's fairground, and the site of the fountain, nicknamed "historic", was occupied by an ancient well. Today, there is only the figure of a little jester that reminds tourists of cheerful traditional fairs, and the fantastic fountain is crowned with a sweet-voiced nightingale. The songbird had been considered a symbol of Malmo before the city was handed over to Sweden. Then the modest nightingale was replaced with a luxurious crowned griffin. The original bronze monuments and the fountain, surrounded by "gingerbread houses" in the traditional European style, have long turned the square into a popular tourist attraction and a favorite leisure area for citizens. It is never quiet here. The square is never deserted. You can hear the voices of foreign tourists everywhere, and local cozy cafes invite you to taste traditional Swedish dishes.