Today we visited a new port for Viking, added after St. Petersburg and two other cities were eliminated from our itinerary. I was not familiar with Mariehamn but learned that this Swedish-speaking city is the capital of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finnish sovereignty.
In Mariehamn, we took another panoramic tour and were treated to glimpses of the island as we drove along Järsö Road, one of the most beautiful roads in Åland. It was cool having the sea on both sides as we rode over the bridges between the islands.
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| Along Järsö Road |
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| Along Järsö Road |
Our first stop was Jomala Church. Dating from 1260-1280, the church is probably the oldest Christian church in Finland, although it was expanded in the nineteenth century. Built of local red granite and limestone, the church is dedicated to King Olaf II of Norway, patron saint of the Åland and Jomala Islands. We had time to wander through the cemetery and admire the ancient headstones.
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| Jomala Church |
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| Jomala Church Cemetery |
We next spent time in central Mariehamn’s Maritime Quarter, a living marine center and museum area with a boat-building yard and traditional handicrafts. We wandered around the area and admired the tall ships docked there.
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| Tim at the Maritime Quarter |
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| The Maritime Quarter |
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| The Maritime Quarter |
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| Admiring the Ships |
Finally, we marveled at the views over Åland’s archipelago from Badhusberget, a picturesque hillside more than 130 feet above sea level. It was then time to head back to the ship.
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