Sigtuna

Sigtuna
Stora gatan, the old main street
Coat of arms
Sigtuna Show map of Stockholm Sigtuna Show map of Sweden
Coordinates: 59°37′N 17°43′E / 59.617°N 17.717°E / 59.617; 17.717Coordinates: 59°37′N 17°43′E / 59.617°N 17.717°E / 59.617; 17.717
Country	Sweden
Province	Uppland
County
Municipality	Sigtuna Municipality
Area
• Total	4.57 km2 (1.76 sq mi)
Population (31 December 2010)
• Total	8,444
• Density	1,849/km2 (4,790/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Website	Official website

Sigtuna is a locality situated in Sigtuna Municipality, , Sweden with 8,444 inhabitants in 2010. It is the namesake of the municipality even though the seat is in Märsta. Sigtuna is, despite its small population, for historical reasons often still referred to as a town. Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities.

Although less significant today, Sigtuna has an important place in Sweden's early history. It is the oldest town in Sweden, having been founded in 980. The history of Sigtuna before the 11th century, as described in the Norse sagas and other early medieval sources, can be found in the article Old Sigtuna.

Sigtuna has a picturesque medieval town centre with restaurants, cafes and small shops. The old church ruins, runic stones and Stora gatan, the old main street, are popular attractions for tourists especially in the summertime. The small streets with the low built wooden houses lead up to several handicrafts shops and the old tiny town hall, Sigtuna Rådhus. There are restaurants and a hotel (Stadshotellet) in the town centre.

Sigtuna is situated at the bay Skarven, stretching around Upplands-Bro and a part of Lake Mälaren.

Sigtuna was founded on what was then the shore of Lake Mälaren just over 1,000 years ago. It took its name from an ancient royal estate (see Uppsala öd) several kilometers to the west (see Fornsigtuna). Various sources claim King Eric the Victorious as founder while others claim King Olof Skötkonung.

It operated as a royal and commercial centre for some 250 years, and was one of the most important cities of Sweden. During a brief period at the end of the 10th and beginning of the 11th century, Sweden's first coins were minted here. St. Mary's Church, built in the 13th century by the Dominican order as a monastery church, still remains largely intact. The Dominican monastery played an important role in the Swedish Middle Ages and produced many important Church officials. Among them, many Swedish archbishops. Many church and monastery ruins still stand, and the old town structure has not been remodeled, as happened in many Swedish cities during the 19th and 20th centuries.