Antwerp
We visited Antwerp in 2009 and while it is known as a trading place for diamonds, there is a lot of history there as well. The main square is surrounded by the city hall on one side and merchant guild houses on another. In front of city hall there is a fountain of Silvius Brabo, a roman soldier who killed a giant who was extorting tolls from people crossing the river Scheldt. In the past the guild houses acted as the regulators of the craft associated with the guild (ie: gold working, leather working, tailors, etc). There is a nice medieval area to stroll around in as well as the Cathedral of Our Lady which has several works from Ruben on display. While we were there we saw the socialist party parade with the members wearing red robes.
There is a nice medieval castle called Het Steen which is now the maritime museum along the port. A statue of Lange Wapper (a giant) is in front. He terrorized the town hundreds of years ago. If you look above the entrance as you enter Hat Steen you will see a statue of Semini, a Scandinavian God for youth and fertility. Female citizens would come here to touch the little statue to ask for fertility and easy pregnancies. However they would need a ladder to get to it.
Read MoreThere is a nice medieval castle called Het Steen which is now the maritime museum along the port. A statue of Lange Wapper (a giant) is in front. He terrorized the town hundreds of years ago. If you look above the entrance as you enter Hat Steen you will see a statue of Semini, a Scandinavian God for youth and fertility. Female citizens would come here to touch the little statue to ask for fertility and easy pregnancies. However they would need a ladder to get to it.
