The waves of the Kronbergsfjärden bay crash against the rocks bounding the fortress of Suomenlinna, a sight as riveting as the fortress itself. The majestic fortification straddles six islands that compose the city of Helsinki, and is representative of a long-drawn struggle in Finnish history. Originally called Sveaborg from 1748 to 1808, this sea fortress was the property of Sweden before it was ambushed in the Russo-Swedish war. Later, Suomenlinna stood testament to the time of Russian administration, until the independence of Finland made it the latter's property. Also known as the Castle of Finland, the Suomenlinna draws comparisons to the Fort of Gibraltar, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fortress houses six museums that can be explored at leisure.
Dit openluchtmuseum werd in 1909 geopend op het populaire recreatie-eiland Seurasaari. De permanente tentoonstelling bestaat uit Finse boerenarchitectuur, en heeft 85 gebouwen die uit verschillende delen van het land komen. Er zijn buitenhuizen, schommels, kerkboten, een teerput en de houten Karunakerk (1686). De oprichter van het museum, professor in etnologie, Axel Olai Heikel, ligt naast deze kerk begraven. Het twee verdiepingen tellende Ivargebouw heeft perfect bewaard gebleven binnenkanten. Geniet van de bossen en de evenementen die er worden gehouden, met name het traditionele midzomerfeest.
De baai van Töölö en de omgeving zijn de meest-besproken en belangrijkste plekken van Finland. Sommige van de grootste bezienswaardigheden en mooiste parken komen hier samen waardoor er een charmante omgeving ontstaat. Als je rond de baai wandelt vanuit de Linnunlauluntiestraat vlakbij het spoor, is het eerste wat je ziet de oude villa's van Linnunlaulu. Dit zijn romantische houten huisjes die langs de straat staan en een zandpad leidt je naar een park. Aan de rechterkant ligt Helsinginkatustraat, en aan de andere kant van deze straat ligt de Stadswintertuin. Geniet van het uitzicht op de fontein in de baai, en van het Operahuis en de Finlandiahal aan de andere zijde, en het mooie Hesperiapark.
Mounted on a small hillock on the Katajanokka peninsula, the Uspenski Cathedral stands as an example of Russia's architectural influence. The splendor of the church's Eastern Orthodox architecture is visible from far corners of the city, with sunlight bouncing off the cathedral's gilded cupolas, and cross-shaped spires reaching for the skies. The red-bricked facade is impressive as well, the result of design work by Russian architect Aleksey Gornostayev. Up until 2007, the Uspenski Cathedral was home to the icon of St. Nicholas, before it was stolen. The cathedral is dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos and has a crypt chapel that is named after Alexander Hotovitzky, former vicar of the Orthodox parish of Helsinki.
Het museum ligt in het hart van de stad en heeft verschillende genres waaronder surrealisme, expressionisme en kubisme. Er is ook een verzameling van veertiende eeuwse Italiaanse werken. De nadruk ligt echter op Finse kunst van halverwege de 18e eeuw tot de jaren '60; je vindt er werken van Isak Wacklin, Wäinö Aaltonen, van wie het beeld van Aleksis Kivi recht tegenover het museum staat. Het museum heeft een interessante boekenwinkel en een leuk café.
The gorgeous University Library, right next to the main building of the University and the Cathedral, is one of Engel's most beautiful creations, completed in 1844. Large windows soften its yellowandwhite exterior, while trees surround the back of the building, making this one of Helsinki's most endearing sights. The outer wall of the library sports a bronze bust of Czar Alexander I and a plaque commemorating the designers of the old city centre, J. A. Ehrenström and C. L. Engel. The interior of the library building is also spectacular. The old interiors are in good shape, and the current refurbishment process is expected to bring even more of the old lustre back. The main hall with its oldfashioned furnishings and marvellous ceiling frescoes is one of the most admired interiors in Finland. The soft, beautiful exterior and ! serene mood of the petite building, overshadowed by taller, more majestic structures, have a calming effect on the whole neighbourhood.
The Museum of Worker Housing, belonging to the Helsinki City Museum, tells about workers in Helsinki in 1909-1980, their times and how they lived. The museum consists of four wooden council houses built in 1909 by A. Nyberg. They include the reconstruction of the living space of nine different families whose periods of life cover the aforementioned time-span.
The Zodiak Center for New Dance was founded in 1986 as a forum for freelance dancers in Finland. It is a unique center for production and events, which also organises visits to Finland by foreign productions, dance artists and teachers. Zodiak's 100-seat performance space is situated within Kaapelitehdas, a major venue with galleries, museums, sports studios, dance studios, eatery and art school. Zodiak is a center for original, ambitious and experimental dance. The company has already won numerous prizes, including the State Award for Dance (1993) and the Finland Award for Young Art (1996). Performances are also held in Stoa (Itäkeskus), the Ateneum hall, the Aleksanteri Theater and the Kiasma theater. Kaapelitehdas is within easy access of the city center on tram 8 or buses 20, 21, 65 and 66.
Arch Tours offers customers a range of tours exploring the architecture of Helsinki and Finland in general. Arch Tours can individually tailor tours to the customers interest, even involving experts and other events. Tours can include a range of Finnish architectural styles ranging from the 18th to 21st centuries.
The Arppeannum University Museum is located in a majestic building with elements of neo-classism. The museum hosts exhibitions portraying the history of the university's faculty, teaching methods and research projects, with a special emphasis on the history of the medical sciences. Academic culture such as festivities and student life also have their own sections. Among the items displayed are various objects and instruments used in teaching and research work as well as sculptures, portraits and paintnings. The museum also hosts a library and archive including a collection of old historical books, documents and photos, with the oldest dating back to the 17th Century. -Paula Holst
While visiting a city, one desires to not only experience the city's entertainment options but also become acquainted with the historic past of the city. The Helsinki Civil Defense Museum in Finland has been customized to provide one with just that required dose of information. Once faced with the cruelty of war, this museum exhibits the latent pathos experienced by the people of the city. The artifacts, toys, utensils on display tell the story of a past that will leave an indelible image on one's mind. Apart from the regular hours, the museum also allows visits by prior arrangement. Call for details.