Segment: Panoramic Tromsø
Episode: Into the Midnight Sun Ep 2
Air Date: 20 October 2019
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane

The centre of Tromsø features the largest collection of wooden houses north of Trondheim, and is home to one of the best concentrations of Empire houses in Norway.

• Empire houses were inspired by ancient Greek and Roman architecture. In Tromsø, the style has a special twist – the buildings are made of wood, not stone. Since the 1800s, Tromsø has been dominated by Empire style architecture.
• The largest city in northern Norway, Tromsø was built on an explosion of prosperity when the fishing industry really took off in the 1700-1800s.
• The town’s architecture has evolved over the years, with bricks becoming a mandatory building material after Europe experienced many great fires that wiped out wooden housing.
• The Arctic Cathedral is a spectacular building, with its soaring white roofline lending it comparisons to the Sydney Opera House. It was built in 1965, made of brick and aluminium, and is a stunning piece of design.
• From 20th May to 22nd July, the town is in complete sunlight, and is complete darkness from 21st November to 21st January. Despite this, it doesn’t get very cold in Tromsø – just -4 degrees – due to its location by the sea, as well as the warming currents.
• There are many activities and adventures in Tromsø all year round, including fishing trips or downhill skiing under the Northern Lights.