Government Palace
On our walking tour through Helsinki, we passed this stately yellow facade of the Government Palace. This building has been at the center of Finnish government for over two centuries.
Designed in the early 1800s, the building was originally constructed when Finland was under Russian rule. It was first used by the Imperial Senate of Finland, making it one of the buildings that has transitioned through empire to independence without ever losing its role.
Today, it houses the Prime Minister’s Office, meaning that decisions shaping Finland today are being made within walls that once served a completely different political power. Here is a place where Finland’s story shifted from being ruled, to ruling itself.
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Helsinki Cathedral
Rising above Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Finland. Its white walls, green copper domes, and broad staircase dominate the historic center of Helsinki and were deliberately designed to do so. The cathedral was designed by German-born architect Carl Ludvig Engel as part of an ambitious rebuilding of Helsinki […]
Havis Amanda Fountain
Upon arriving in Helsinki, Finland with Emmy, we hired a local guide to introduce us to the city and its history. One of our stops was the Havis Amanda Fountain, one of Helsinki’s beloved landmarks. Unveiled in 1908 and created by sculptor Ville Vallgren, the bronze figure rising from the sea symbolizes the birth of Helsinki and its close relationship […]
Uspenski Cathedral
Standing in front of Uspenski Cathedral, Emmy and I wonder about this impressive building. The cathedral was completed in 1868, when Finland was an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire. Placing the cathedral on this rocky hill was meant to be visible from the harbor, a public declaration of Orthodox Christianity in the capital […]
