After a
late morning arrival into Tallinn today, we did a walking tour of the city….
Cool and cloudy but no rain...we left the port and headed to Tallinn’s Old
Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its the twisting cobblestone streets,
Gothic spires and medieval markets. The old town was built from the 13th to the
16th centuries when Tallinn was a thriving member of the Hanseatic trade
league. This enclosed neighborhood of
colorful, gabled houses, half-hidden courtyards and grandiose churches is quite
rightly the city’s biggest draw. Our first stop was Fat Margaret’s cannon tower
and on to Pikk Street, the medieval merchants root from the harbor to town...we
came upon Three Sisters a classic example of a merchant’s home/warehouse/office
from the 15th century. On the next block was the Gothic St. Olav’s Church...I
climbed the churches spire at 124 meter/258 steps, a narrow circular
climb...definitely my most difficult yet...
In the darker times of the Soviet Union, the spire was used by the KGB
to block the Finnish TV signals. Moving along the street we came to the ornate
doors of the Brotherhood of Black Heads, built in 1440, this house was used as
a German merchant’s club until the reign of Hitler. Next, we came upon the
Maisasmokk Sweet and Coffee Shop, famous for marzipan...of course we tired a
few samples. Passing the Great Guild Hall and across the street we visited the
Holy Spirit Church, a very old 14th century structure, spectacular both inside
and out. We entered the Town Hall Square dominated by the Town Hall...this area
was bustling with restaurants and events for Tallinn’s Old Days Festival. We
continued uphill to the Upper Town known as Toompea. We went to the Parliament,
the impressive Russian Orthodox Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Dome
church and to two viewpoints for great panoramic cityscapes. We made our way
back down to lower town on our way back to the ship. It was a fabulous day in Tallinn… Just loving this place!
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