Sparreska palatset, Hamngatan, Baroque palace in Riddarholmen, Sweden
Sparreska palatset on Hamngatan is a baroque palace with white walls, symmetrical facades, and dark green window frames accented by decorative iron anchors. The building displays the structured proportions typical of 17th-century Swedish noble architecture, with carefully arranged windows and refined classical details along its street front.
Queen Christina granted the land to Peder Eriksson Sparre in 1635 as compensation related to his family's past losses. The building served different purposes over the centuries before becoming a significant public institution in Stockholm.
The palace transformed from a noble residence into Sweden's first public maternity hospital in 1775, with ten beds established on the ground floor.
The building stands prominently on a main street in Stockholm's old town and is easy to spot from the surrounding area. Today it functions as an administrative headquarters, so check ahead about access possibilities before planning a visit.
A limestone terrace artwork called Arkipelag incorporates stones from the islands of Öland and Gotland, merging natural materials with contemporary artistic installation. This modern element surprises visitors who come expecting only a historical facade.
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