Helsinki - the capital of Finland
The capital of Finland, the city of Helsinki, is located directly on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. The capital can offer both a secluded vacation, designed exclusively for two, and a noisy fun weekend for a youth company, and an excellent excursion.
Suomenlinna fortress
There is a fortress on the islands with an interesting name «Wolf skerries». Suomenlinna appeared here after the end of the 1741-1743 war and was assigned the role of a defensive structure. Today it is a huge open-air museum. The entrance here is free.
Senate square
The Senate Square of the capital is known all over the world. It appeared after Finland became part of the Russian Empire, and is designed in the style of late classicism. The center of the square is decorated with a monument to Alexander II, and behind it rises the Cathedral.
Fountain Havis Amanda
It is simply impossible not to admire the fountain while walking by calmly. A naked bronze nymph towering over it is a symbol of the capital, and the fountain has long become a favorite meeting place. It is especially fun here on May 1, the day «Finnish student». Nymphs are traditionally put on a university cap on their heads, and the square itself turns into a place of mass festivities for young people..
Please note that the nymph has her back turned to the windows of the administration located on the same square. There is a certain legend on this account. The fountain was built back in 1906, but the nymph took its honorable centerpiece only two years later. In addition, the mayor, to put it mildly, was somewhat dissatisfied with the girl's nakedness, and significantly cut the sculptor's fee. In retaliation, he turned her fifth point to the windows of his abuser.
Assumption Cathedral
The largest Orthodox cathedral located in Western European countries. It is very easy to find it. Go to the very center of the capital, there, on a rocky hill covered with lilacs, you will see this magnificent structure.
Temppeliaukio Church
A very unusual structure, carved directly inside the rock. The architects blew up the interior of the boulder and erected a dome on top, visually more reminiscent of a huge television dish. But not only the appearance of the church, which looks more like a large shopping center, is striking, but also the interior decoration..
The church building is regularly used for organ music concerts. The greatest musician of our time, Mstislav Rostropovich, considered the local acoustics to be the best in the whole world..
