Mariatorget
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Mariatorget (the Maria Square) is a square and a city park in Södermalm, Stockholm, constructed in the end of the 1760's. Its original name was Adolf Fredriks torg (after King Adolphus Frederick, who reigned 1751-1771), but it was renamed Mariatorget in 1959 to avoid confusion with the church and parish of Adolf Fredrikskyrkan in Norrmalm. The modern name alludes to the nearby Maria Magdalena kyrka (Church of Mary Magdalene) and the surrounding parish.
The square faces the street of Hornsgatan to the north, and the street of S:t Paulsgatan to the south. The street Swedenborgsgatan, named after Emanuel Swedenborg, starts here and continues southwards. A bust of the same Swedenborg is also situated in the park. The central fountain is crowned by a sculpture by Anders Henrik Wissler, Tors fiske (Thor fishing), depicting the Norse god Thor slaying the sea serpent Jörmungandr.
A small Methodist church, S:t Paulskyrkan, faces the south west corner of the square. It houses the oldest methodist congregation in Sweden. The building was inagugurated in 1876. The altar painting, by Wilhelm Gernandt, was added when the altar section was rebuilt in 1894.
The area surrounding the park offers quite an amount of cafés and bars. The bar "Rival", which until recently was a cinema theatre, is partly owned by the former ABBA star Benny Andersson.
[edit] Metro station
The Stockholm Metro station of Mariatorget is nearby, although none of its two exits actually leads directly onto the square. The station is on the "red line", and was inaugurated April 4, 1964 as the 48th station on the network. The lines 13 and 14 pass here. Artwork include a small sculpture Människa och pelare (Man and Pillar), by Asmund Arle, on the station platform. The sculpture has been stolen at least eight times. The "Rival " Hotel is owned by former ABBA star Benny Andersson.
[edit] Sources
- Article in Dagens Nyheter, published March 14, 2005 (in Swedish)
- Alfredsson, B., Berndt, R., Harlén, H.: Stockholm Under. 50 år - 100 stationer. – Stockholm: Brombergs, 2000
- S:t Pauls Metodistförsamling - Official page (in Swedish)
