Bergen, important cultural center and second most important city of south western Norway, has a fishing and commercial port, point of arrival of the routes from the North Sea. Built around 1070 it was the sparkling capital of Norway from 1350 until 1560 exercising a remarkable influence inside the Hanseatic League, one of the most important commercial federations of the age.

This prosperity led to the construction of buildings of remarkable beauty that can be admired in the quarter of Bryggen, many times reconstructed after enduring innumerable fires (1702, 1855 and 1916).