DESCRIPTION
The capital city of Åland, the main island of a Baltic Sea archipelago, is Mariehamn. The island is a meld of many cultures. Administratively, it is a part of Finland, but it runs on its own accord. The language is Swedish. Its past is Russian, and how the city got its name. Maria was a consort of Tsar Alexander II, and she grew up on the island – her love for it earned here the honor of having it named for her. Mariehamn is a port city, with sheltered harbors, and many of the attractions are maritime in nature. The Pommern is a once ship, now museum, and is thought to be the only remaining German-built ship with four masts still in existence. The Nautical Museum is close by, and visitors also enjoy a walk along the Esplanade, a tree-lined avenue that connects the harbors.