History packed in a round plaza (Sankt Thomas, Copenhagen : )

If you start to think about it, any spot in the world could have been a monumental place in its time, but now gets overwritten by newer world events. Just like this Sankt Thomas Plads in Copenhagen, which acknowledges the country villa that was demolished in favour of newer construction. Does it mean we must learn to let go? No, rather it recognizes the value of history while still making the present accessible to newer audiences.

A moment of appreciation, that's all!

Airial image credit: copenhagenbycosedis

What first caught my eye in Copenhagen was the way this circular plaza seamlessly blended into the road, which immediately gives the impression that one must slow down and look around, although the real achievement here is that Sankt Thomas Plads offers a small respite from the rest of the city's concrete jungle. From an aerial view, one can easily spot the residential buildings surrounding it, and as I walked around this cobblestoned junction, I spotted the Sankt Thomas name, which is essentially an homage to the pharmacist Albert Riise, who first bought a summer villa at this site and named it after the Caribbean island of Saint Thomas. This is even crazier to consider since Copenhagen must have been months of sea travel away at the time.

Today, however, this plaza is adorned with two fountains depicting a falconer and a Dutch woman, both designed by the Hungarian sculptor Jenő Meister, overall symbolizing the rich immigrant community of Frederiksberg Avenue. And walking down this neighbourhood, the small details in the building façades will be a short but welcome distraction as you head to your destination.

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