Solliden Palace, the summer residence of the Swedish Royal Family, is a stone villa designed in the Italian style, commissioned by the then Crown Princess Victoria in 1903. Victoria sought relief from poor health in the dry climate of the island of Öland. She took an active role in the project, drawing particular inspiration from Villa San Michele on Capri. The palace was designed by Swedish architect Torben Grut, with architectural details and statues acquired in Italy with the assistance of Axel Munthe.
The palace was completed in 1906 and passed to King Gustaf V following Victoria's death in 1930. During his ownership, the palace park was opened to the public. King Gustaf V bequeathed the estate to his great-grandson, King Carl XVI Gustaf, who inherited the property in 1950.
Today, it remains a working summer residence of the Swedish royal family, occupied each summer by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. Solliden Palace overlooks the Baltic Sea and is situated near the ruins of Borgholm Castle. The palace hosts part of the annual celebrations for the birthday of Crown Princess Victoria, known as Victoriadagen, on 14 July, when members of the Royal Family traditionally meet the public in front of the palace before celebrations continue in Borgholm.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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