Medieval church ruins and warehouses blend with the low houses of wood and stone from later periods.
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries Gotlandic trade and shipping played a major part in the Baltic area. As a centre of international trade and culture with a strong German element, Visby became an important town. A wall of limestone was built to enclose the town. It was constructed in the thirteenth century, as were most of the 17 medieval churches and a large number of dwelling houses. The big churches were erected by different monastic orders, which also built a school and a House of the Holy Spirit for the poor, sick, and travellers.