The amazing story of Ladonia, an uninhabited microstate – SiViaggia

There are no bloody wars or calculated divisions on the table: behind this microscopic era lies the project of an artist who does not want to give up his great work. Ladonia boasts an incredible historyIt’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime ones that’s worth discovering – then maybe plan a trip and visit this little gem.

Ladonia, The Birth of a Microstate

We are in the 80’s, in the heart of a magical place: Colaberge Nature Reserve. The latter is a pristine oasis perched on a branch of southern Sweden overlooking the Kattegat Fjord, a hard-to-reach and inaccessible place. Here, with a magnificent view of the sea, Swedish artist Lars Vilks decided to let his inspiration run wild and put two great works in the works. So I was born first nimesa statue made of 75 tons of wood, and soon after Arxa “fortress” made entirely of stone.

for two years, Nobody notices their presence: They are completely hidden in the stately nature of the garden, and certainly do not cause any problems. But when they are discovered, controversy ensues. According to the local authorities, the sculptures must be considered buildings in all respects, and the construction of buildings within the reserve is strictly prohibited. Hence the request to demolish them, however Lars Vilks is not fit: The council’s decision is appealed several times and repeatedly lost. Which is why he decided to act in a surprising way, declaring the microscopic state of Ladonia in 1996.

Meanwhile, over the years, anything really has happened. from Create a new artworkwhich was then dismantled (in its place today is a much smaller memorial), to purchase nimes by artist Christo, in an effort to protect the sculpture from further deconstruction decisions. A carving that has now exceeded, among other things, the 100 tons of wood used in its expansion. There is no shortage of acts of vandalism such as fires and stone carvings to destroy Felix’s work. but Ladonia is presentand still today a small enclave of Sweden attracts spectators from all over the world.

What do you know about Ladonia?

In addition to its decidedly strange history, Ladonia also hides many curiosities. starting from First Name: According to the myths, micronations would arise exactly at the point where the precious golden apple tree was transported as a gift from Hera for her wedding with Zeus. In defense of the plant, the goddess placed Dragon Ladon, a supernatural creature with a hundred heads, was killed by Hercules in an attempt to seize the apples. In short, the roots of this place once again emphasize its magical atmosphere. Of course, with the passage of time, micronations became so in all respects, acquiring their own currency (called Ortug) and adopting Latin as a language.

And what about the population? born without citizens, Ladonia remained uninhabited all this time. On the other hand, it is not easy to reach, and there are no houses, shops, or roads, signs of civilization that are indispensable today for survival. However, officially micronations have a population greater than their own 27 thousand people, Ladonians who live in over 50 different countries, while also feeling like they belong to such a special place. There is even a democratically elected queen who reigns for life. The first was Yoon I, who resigned in 2013; followed Caroline Iwho remains in office.