The city of Malmo is a creative hub with a thriving cultural and gastronomic scene. Here are some interesting facts that make Sweden’s third largest city unique.
Malmo interesting facts
1. The average age of the inhabitants of Malmo is 36 years, and in the whole of Sweden it is 41 years.
2. It is believed that the history of Malmo began in 1275, when the Archbishop of Lund built a fortified ferry pier in the area, which soon became the second largest city in Denmark.
3. In keeping with its identity as a city of contrasts, south of the historic Lilli Torg is the Shape/Design Center. Form / Design Center, hidden under the guise of an old apartment building, is an exhibition space dedicated to contemporary art, design and architecture, complemented by a charming courtyard and cafe.
4. Founded at the end of 1200, Malmo originally belonged to Denmark, and only in 1658 did it become Swedish.
5. In the 17th century, the Swedes moved to the area called the Scandinavian region. In 1658, after the signing of the Treaty of Roskilde between Denmark and Sweden, they took control of the city.
6. 31% of the inhabitants of Malmo were born abroad, 50% of them women and 50% men.
7. During the summer, the Malmo Summer Stage hosts free cultural events throughout the city. More than 150 events take place here every year at 40 different stages. From concerts by international artists to children’s theater and crazy experiments.
8. More than 316 thousand people live in the city, and its inhabitants live in more than 170 countries.
9. The architect of Turning Torso is Santiago Calatrava and the building was ready for occupancy on November 1, 2005. It is 190 meters high and consists of 54 floors with 147 apartments and offices.
10. The tenth largest Arab film festival in Europe takes place every year in Malmo. Founded in 2011, it focuses exclusively on the work of Arab filmmakers and organizes a separate film festival presenting films about Arab women.
11. The weather in Malmo is slightly milder than in the rest of the country. It’s a pretty windy city. You can experience warm, pleasant summers and relatively mild winters here.
12. In 2012, 19,800 people moved to Malmo and 17,300 people moved. Nearly half of the new arrivals were in the 20-29 age group.
13. In 1437 the city received its coat of arms.
14. Old Town is an island in the city center divided into two parts: Gamla Vester in the west, filled with historic buildings, and the east, which was revived in the 1960s.
15. In the mid-1970s, the city experienced its first recession, which affected its main industries in shipyards and factories. This led to mass unemployment and the final closure of the shipyard in Kokkum in 1986.
16. Walking through the picturesque streets, you will inevitably find yourself in Stortorget, Malmo’s oldest and largest square, surrounded by beautiful 16th-century architecture.
17. With the completion of the Turning Torso skyscraper in 2005, Malmo also acquired the tallest structure in Scandinavia. Today the city is popular as a trendy urban scene with easy access to the Danish capital Copenhagen.
