Kirkwall, is a Scottish town with a Norse heart. Although no one knows for sure when the town was founded, the first mention of Kirkwall goes back to 1046. It was the Vikings who founded a small settlement that they later called "Kirkjuvagr". The town's original name can be translated as "The Church on the Bay", and although Kirkwall became one of the Scottish burghs in the 15th century, it never forgot its origin, and you still can feel the indomitable spirit of the early northern adventures there.
There is a lot to see and place on a Kirkwall itinerary, and you should start with the main landmark, the St. Magnus Cathedral. Its construction started in the 12th century and it took approximately 300 hundred years to finish this Romano-Gothic cathedral, nowadays known as the "Light in the North". The doors of St. Magnus are open for anyone who wants to connect with God, seeks inspiration or just wants to enjoy the quietness and the impressive interiors.
There is another sight around St. Magnus's age nestled in the heart of Kirkwall, the Bishop's Palace. At first, it was home of William the Old, the cathedral's first bishop. They say King Hakon of Norway died within the walls of the palace after the Battle of Largs in 1263. Now the building is partly ruined, but it's still possible to have a look inside.
Near the palace, you can find one more sight you shouldn't miss, the ruins of the Earl's Palace. Dating back to the 17th century, this Renaissance-style building was built after the Earl of Orkney Patrick, one of the most vicious and despotic men in Scotland's recorded history. He decided that the Bishop's palace can't meet his growing needs anymore and demanded to build a new, bigger and better palace on the adjoining land.
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