Tervetuloa Helsinkiin. (Welcome to Helsinki.)
Helsinki, located on the southern coast of Finland (called Suomi by
the Finns), has had more than its share of press since the Helsinki
Summit. However, prior to its recent political exposure, this
handsome "White City of the North" has long been an under-the-radar
destination. Nevertheless, it is one city that is truly worth getting
to know.
Helsinki lies very close to 60° North Latitude. This explains its
abundance of light in summer months and the fact that around June 22,
the night lasts about 1 hour 20 minutes. Finland's unique culture and
way of life can be attributed to its geographic location sandwiched
between East and West. For more than half a millennium, Finland was
part of Sweden. After which time the Grand Duchy of Finland was
established within the Russian Empire.
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| A CAFE UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN |
Finns that you meet on a visit to Helsinki might appear to be
reserved but looks can be deceiving. Finns like to have fun. Finland
has a reputation for its rather wacky events such as a wife-carrying
contest, mobile phone throwing competitions, and mosquito swatting
events. Helsinki also created a wacky, welcoming “buzz” the year of the
talking trash bins. Not only did the trash bins introduce you to the
Finnish language, but they also played a musical thank you when you
deposited your trash in them. During that time, the talking trash bins
were placed near four of the most visited attractions in Helsinki:
Sibelius Monument, Senate Square, Pohjoisesplanadi (the Esplanade) and
Temppeliaukio Church (the Rock Church).
The Sibelius Monument, honoring Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, was
unveiled in 1967. It is composed of 527 silver steel pipes. To some
viewers, it is reminiscent of organ pipes and Sibelius's beloved birch
trees. To others, its silvery pipes “reflect the change of season and
light, echoing birds' song, sighing in the sea breeze and resonating
furiously during a storm”. A bust of the composer sits on a nearby
wall. Located in Sibelius Park, the monument site is a place for
strolling, resting on nearby benches, or posing for pictures beneath the
tubes.
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| THE SIBELIUS MONUMENT |
The heart of Helsinki beats around Senate Square with its
Government Palace, National Library of Finland, (the main building of
the University of Helsinki) and the elegant Lutheran Cathedral. The
buildings were designed by Carl Ludwig Engel between 1822 and 1852.
Nearby is the colorful Market Square.
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| THE LUTHERAN CATHEDRAL IS FRONTED BY A STATUE OF EMPEROR ALEXANDER II OF RUSSIA |
Pohjoisesplanadi is translated into the easily pronounceable
Esplanade or Espa. This tree-lined boulevard stretches from the
colorful Market Square, with its famous bronze Havis Amanda Fountain, to
the Swedish Theater on Mannerheimintie Street. This showcase of Finnish
design serves as a promenade and a place to relax.
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| THE ESPLANADE IS A PROMENADE GREAT FOR PEOPLE-WATCHING |
The Temppeliaukio Church ("The Rock Church") is an architectural gem
(completed in 1969) that was carved from solid Finnish granite. The
architects chose a rocky outcrop rising about 40 feet above street
level, and blasted out the walls from the inside. A copper dome, the
only part of the structure that is visible from the street, looks as if a
flying saucer has landed in the midst of a quiet residential
neighborhood. The interior ceiling of the dome, woven of copper strips,
is connected to the raw rock wall by 180 vertical windows. The Rock
Church is a popular venue for concerts.
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| ENTRANCE TO THE COPPER-DOMED ROCK CHURCH |
Check out the 1919 granite Central Railway Station, one of the best
known symbols of Helsinki and considered the most important work
of Eliel Saarinen. Its style represents the transition from National
Romanticism to Functionalism. Two pairs of statues, on either side of
the main entrance, hold spherical lamps that are lit at night-time. In
2013, Helsinki Central was chosen as one of the world's most beautiful
railway stations.
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| SAARINEN’S 1919 CENTRAL STATION |
The 1990s saw the addition of two architectural gems in Helsinki.
Kiasma, the contemporary art museum, aims at expanding and exploring an
understanding of contemporary art. The Finnish National Opera (1993)
offers a modern setting for opera and ballet. It is linked with the City
Theatre and Alvar Aalto's Finlandia Hall. In front of the Olympic
Stadium, a most significant example of Finnish functionalism, is a
statue of Paavo Nurmi. Nurmi was Finland's most successful Olympic
runner.
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| PAAVO NURMI, FOREVER YOUNG, RUNS IN FRONT OF THE OLYMPIC STADIUM |
On February 1, 2012, the year in which Helsinki was crowned the 2012
World Design Capital, the Kamppi Chapel (known as the "Chapel of
Silence") was completed on Narinkka Square in central Helsinki. The
curved, windowless, wood-clad chapel soaring skyward like a humongous
salad bowl, became popular immediately. The chapel welcomes everyone
irrespective of religion, philosophy of life or background. It is a
place, in one of Finland's most lively urban spaces, where anyone can
come to calm down and have a moment of silence.
Be sure to leave some time for shopping in Helsinki! The one place
where you can satisfy all your Finnish shopping needs is the
aforementioned street with the tongue-twisting name of
Pohjoisesplanadi. Translated into the easily pronounceable Esplanade or
Espa, this tree-lined boulevard stretching from the open market (at the
South Harbor) to the Swedish Theater (on Mannerheimintie Street) is a
showcase of Finnish design.
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| FAMOUS HAVIS AMANDA FOUNTAIN AT MARKET SQUARE |
The question you will want to ask before you shop in Helsinki is
: Kuinka paljon se maksaa? (How
much does it cost?) The answer you will find is ‘Plenty’! However,
you will be assured of fine merchandise. The potpourri of shops on the
Esplanade offers fine merchandise known for its elegant simplicity,
functionality, and quality. Finnish design reflects the characteristics
of its people. Like the Finns themselves, their products reveal an
affinity to nature. Finland is a land with millions of forests and
billions of trees. In Finland they carve the wood with their hands and
create a form with original Finnish spirit. Check out the following
shops on the Esplanade.
Finnish birch bead rams residing on the shelves of the Aarikka shop
are said to sing the song of Finnish wood design. In Finland, they call
that form Aarikka. For over half a century, Aarikka has done
fascinating things with wood. The delicious smell of Finnish pine and
birch assaults the senses of shoppers as they enter the shop renowned
for those adorable wooden ram sculptures. Pässi the ram is Aarikka’s
most famous sculpture series.
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| THE RAM IS AARIKKA’S MOST FAMOUS SCULPTURE SERIES |
Marimekko is a way of dressing…timelessly unique, simple and
elegant. Marimekko, which means 'Mary's simple dress', is a shop for
people who associate quality of design with quality of life. Founded in
1951, the heart and soul of Marimekko's designs are the bold prints and
colors that come to life in the approximate one-million meters of
fabric that are printed at their factory every year. Marimekko bears the
banner of Finnish design all over the world.
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| MARIMEKKO IS A BOLD AND COLORFUL WAY OF DRESSING |
Yes, iittala, the shop selling timeless design that will never be
thrown away, begins its spelling with a lower case 'i'. A small white
'i', in a tiny red dot, marks the sign of faultless glassware designed
by renowned Finnish designers such as Tapio Wirkkala and Alvar Aalto.
Alvar Aalto's 1936 creation of his now famous Savoy Vase was the
beginning of what has become known as "original Finnish glass design".
Today, that same Aalto vase, which can be seen in museums around the
world, is still one of the most characteristic designs of iittala
glasswork.
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| AALTO’S SAVOY VASE COMES IN ALL SIZES AND COLORS |
Helsinki, the capital city of this “Land of Light and Water” lies
very close to 60° North Latitude. This explains its abundance of light
in summer months and the fact that around June 22, the night lasts about
1 hour 20 minutes. Although Helsinki is particularly wonderful during
its bright summer months, it is a city for all seasons… a place to
shop…a place to stroll…a place to dine. It’s a Sibelius symphony…a
steaming sauna (pronounced sow-nah)…and a midnight sun.
It’s Finntastic!
JANET STEINBERG is an award-winning Travel Writer, and International
Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL AUTHORITY in CINCINNATI, OHIO. She is
the winner of 46 national Travel Writing Awards. TEXT AND PHOTOS BY
JANET STEINBERG
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