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Founded: 15th centuryCategory: Miscellaneous historic sites in Sweden
Historical period: Kalmar Union (Sweden)
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The Dannemora mine was one of the most important iron ore mines in Sweden. The mine was closed by its owners SSAB in 1992. It may have been open since the 13th century, but the first documentary reference was in 1481.
The mine supplied all the ironworks making oregrounds iron by the Walloon process (using a blast furnace and finery forge), such as Österby and Lövsta. Their products were particularly pure iron, due the manganese content of the iron ore. This made it the best material for conversion to blister steel, the main variety of steel made in Great Britain between the 1610s and the 1850s. The mine has a depth of 640 metres.
Today the area is both a historic site and mining technology museum. There are a souvenir shop, a craftshop, an atique store and a mineral museum. Visitors may stroll along the various open cast mines, the pits have vertical walls and look pretty impressive. There are some 50 open cast mines, fantastic abysses made the mine field a popular attraction for painters, writers and royalty from many countries during the 19th century. Carl von Linné visited the mines, and there are numerous historic paintings, in oil and copper engravings.
Storrymmningen is the longest open cast mine in th field, more than 200m long and 100m deep. It is visited on guided tours, which then enter the underground mine and show the main shaft going down to the 620m level. The tour ends at a small mchine house nearby, which contains the first steam engine of Sweden, which was used between 1728 and 1735 to power the water pumps of the mine.
References:The Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churches of Rome. The basic floor plan and wall structure of the church date back to the 340s, and much of the structure to 1140-43. The first sanctuary was built in 221 and 227 by Pope Callixtus I and later completed by Pope Julius I.
The inscription on the episcopal throne states that this is the first church in Rome dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, although some claim that privilege belongs to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. A Christian house-church was founded here about 220 by Pope Saint Callixtus I (217-222) on the site of the Taberna meritoria, a refuge for retired soldiers. The area was made available for Christian use by Emperor Alexander Severus when he settled a dispute between the Christians and tavern-keepers.
The church underwent two restorations in the fifth and eighth centuries and in 1140-43 it was re-erected on its old foundations under Pope Innocent II.