Why is dative used here?

Question

I have come across this sentence, and do not really understand why the dative is being used in the second clause. Could somebody explain why?

Tipps für den Besuch in Schwäbisch Gmünd - einer süddeutschen Kleinstadt.

Answer 1

The case of einer süddeutschen Kleinstadt is the same as that of Schwäbisch Gmünd, it is just that for the name you cannot tell as clearly that it is dative. You are probably aware that in takes accusative or dative depending on (as a rule of thumb) whether it describes a movement or not. Here it is perceived as being in and not into. So it is

eine Fahrt in eine süddeutsche Kleinstadt

but

ein Besuch in einer süddeutschen Kleinstadt.