This area, protected from the sea by natural stone reefs, has provided a sheltered harbor for traders and fishermen since prehistoric times. The Viking traditions of extensive long-distance trade persisted during the 12th and 13th centuries, and in the 13th century Visby held a paramount trading position in the Baltic. Its population was a mixture of native islanders and settlers from abroad, most of them German-speaking. The two main parts of the wall, the Sea Wall facing the sea, and the Land Wall looking inland, were constructed during the 13th century. The well-preserved state of the wall makes it one of the most remarkable medieval monuments of Europe, and together with the surviving stone houses it reflects Visby's unique importance in international trade of those times. 

The Sea Wall is about 1,400 meters long and originally was about 5.5 meters high. Parallel to the wall, there was a mooring jetty (the so-called Long Jetty). To transport goods between the port and the merchants’ houses there were at least 9 gates in the wall next to the jetty. These gates were called Bryggportar. Many of them remain visible, and some are even in use today like for example The Small Beach Gate (https://reveal.world/story/the-small-beach-gate).

There were two entry channels to the port: one south of the Gunpowder Tower (https://reveal.world/story/the-gunpowder-tower) and another one - on the site of the present-day inner docks. The harbor was operational until the 15th century. Later it was filled in and turned into gardens. During the second half of the 19th century elm trees were planted there, hence the current name of the park - Almedalen.

Next stop - The Donners Gate https://reveal.world/story/the-donners-gate