FINLAND : The capital HELSINKI
Helsinki, founded on June 12, 1550, is a multi-faceted town that is
unique in many ways and has much to offer any visitor. It is Finland’s
capital and the centre of its cultural, financial and economic activity.
Helsinki is unlike any other Finnish city, due in part to the
fascinating combination of Swedish and Russian influences. Helsinki
retains a small-town feel: there are no high-rise buildings and the
market square is still surrounded by 19th-century architecture. Its
green parks and waterways, fresh sea winds with seagulls flying over the
busy market square, and many open-air cafes make it a perfect summer
destination.
Helsinki is divided into a total of 54 districts. Some of these
districts are often counted as one, and sometimes the city is merely
divided into the centre and the suburbs. In general, you could say that
the southern districts are older and more revered, and they contain most
of the city's main tourist attractions.
Most big cities have a limited number of parks. In Helsinki, parks can
be found behind almost every corner. Even in the most densely-built
districts of the city centre, dense parks have been introduced to liven
up the landscape. Both the overwhelming presence of nature and the clear
street pattern - the network of straight, symmetrical wide streets,
which make finding any address a simple task - are the creation of the
city's two main designers, Johan Albrecht Ehrenström and Carl Ludvig
Engel.
Ehrenström's symmetrical street pattern with its wide streets and
multitude of parks was ahead of its time; cities built in the early
1800s haven't usually been built for the comfort of the citizens so
clearly in mind. Engel, on the other hand, has had a profound influence
on the Helsinki cityscape with his elegant, tall and symmetrical
buildings. Engel designed over 30 public buildings in Helsinki as well
as a great number of private houses. All these buildings, especially the
fabulous historical centre, have had a huge impact on all later
developments in Helsinki..
Helsinki enjoys a milder climate than much of Finland thanks to the
Baltic Sea and the gentle winds from the Gulf Stream, however, you'll
need to rug up warm in the winter. The most enjoyable months to visit
are June through September. In July, local folk flee the city for their
summer cottages, and many offices close. It's a grand time to be a
tourist - the weather is pleasant, the markets bustle and the cafes set
up their outdoor tables. If you're interested in culture, book your trip
during August, when a major arts festival and countless smaller
performances will keep you entertained.
The surroundings of Helsinki offer a lot too. Several lakes and the
evergreen forest give a special character to the countryside. The Old
Town of Porvoo and the area around Lake Tuusulanjärvi, especially the
home (Ainola) of famous composer Jean Sibelius, are the prime ones. With
more time than few days you could explore the other parts of Finland,
there are plenty of possibilities from active trekking holidays to quiet
relaxing stay at some cottage by a beautiful lake or the archipelago.
Helsinki serves also as an excellent jumping point to Tallinn and even
to St.Petersburg or Stockholm.
