Large modern city, completely surrounded by nature: this is Oslo, capital of Norway, from 2007 ranks among the greenest cities in Europe.
Attractions, monuments, parks, beaches, fjords and art galleries make Oslo a tourist destination par excellence, where the tourist can find everything. Let’s see what are the stages missed to mark on your map to learn more about this city.
Oslo is the first city where it takes place every December 10 the award of the Nobel Peace Prize, is therefore a must to visit the Nobel Peace Center. It is a museum that showcases not only the winners of the Nobel Prize, but also the ideals that lie behind this event. In addition, the center is also an arena where promoted cultural and political events, debates and meetings on issues such as peace, war and conflict resolution.
Staying on the subject of Nobel, there are other sites linked to this award to visit such as the Town Hall, or the Oslo Spektrum, large arena where the concert is held every year for the Nobel Prize for Peace.
For lovers of tradition there is the Norwegian Folk Museum, large outdoor area that shows 155 houses rich in tradition and from different regions of Norway. Here, apart from visiting the historic playground and exhibitions with traditional costumes and folk art, there are many labs, especially for children, such as that for the preparation of lefse, a type of flat bread typical of the place.
Worth a visit, especially if you love modern art, is definitely the Nasjonalgalleriet, National Gallery: here you will find masterpieces by artists such as Edvard Munch – the famous Scream is right here – Picasso, Gauguin, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne and Matisse.
Among the museums we include also the Viking Ship Museum, which houses these massive boats kept in excellent condition for more than a thousand years. The most solemn of all the ships and the Oseberg, which required as many as 30 oarsmen, decorated on the stern and on the bow with sculptures depicting a dragon and a snake.
If you are looking for the Green, you’re in the right place, with its huge parks and botanical gardens. There is the Vigeland Park, where many works were arranged by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. Well 212 sculptures in granite and bronze, such as the Sinataggen, the “Little Hothead” or the Obelisk, where bodies clinging to each other.
If you like these works, you can find more in the Vigeland Museum, which is located in the premises of the atelier and accommodation of the sculptor and contains original works from 1890 to the 40s.
Outdoor sculptures by other artists can also find them at the Peer Gynt sculpture park, inspired by the homonymous work of Henrik Ibsen and Tjuvholmen Sculpture Park, with the works of Renzo Piano. The TusenFryd Amusement Park is instead a playground for all ages, with roller coasters, rides of all kinds and even a water park.
Among the monuments, a visit to the wonderful Akersneset castle is a must, impressive building dating back to 1300 located on top of the hill Akersneset.
Walking around the old town you cannot stumble in Oslo cathedral, built in 1697, famous for its stained glass windows and the beautifully painted ceilings. Inside take place many concerts and striking while the back of the cathedral are the Basarhallene, where in summer takes place a characteristic antiques market.
The Royal Palace is another goal to be scored: Here dwell the Norwegian sovereign from 1848 when Oslo was still called Christiania.