A Trip to Helsinki
Overview
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and its largest port city, as well as the country’s economic, political, cultural, tourism, and transportation hub, and a world-famous international metropolis. The city has been rated one of the most livable cities in the world for many years running. It is also one of the happiest cities on earth.
Compared with the other Nordic countries, its cultural and artistic atmosphere is slightly less rich, but overall it still has a strong Nordic character, with many buildings in distinct colors and streets that are vibrant and colorful. The guide recommended a few places:
- Sibelius Park
- The Rock Church
- The red-and-white church
- Shopping—because Finland has the highest tax-refund rate, the LV store here is billed as the cheapest LV boutique in the world.
In my view, the best way to do Helsinki is to spend a full day sightseeing, then take the DFDS cruise at night to Stockholm, Sweden, so you can enjoy the harbor at dusk and save a night’s hotel.
Since the hotel Fliggy booked for us was one of the few local five-star hotels and sat right in the city center, we ultimately decided to stay at the hotel and set off the next day for Oslo, Norway.
Sibelius Park
Sibelius Park is actually quite lovely, sitting right next to the Baltic Sea, and the two sculptures inside the park are its biggest highlights. The most eye-catching one is made of 600 hollow steel pipes arranged in a wave-like pattern, about 6.5 meters tall, resembling a giant pipe organ. When the wind blows through, this “organ” produces sweet, mysterious sounds that echo in harmony with the surrounding flowers and trees. This abstract sculpture was designed by the famous Finnish sculptor Eila Hiltunen to express the essence of Sibelius’s symphonies. The organ sculpture has become a landmark of Helsinki.
The second sculpture, located near the organ, is a bust of Sibelius himself, completed in 1967 on the 10th anniversary of his death. This metal portrait of the maestro is set into a red rock beside it, for people to pay their respects.
There are some stories behind Sibelius; I’d encourage readers to search online for tales about him. When the wind blows through the organ, it lets out a humming sound, symbolizing the Finns’ cry of resistance against oppression.
The Rock Church
The Rock Church is gorgeous, and completely unlike the vast majority of churches in Europe; it feels more like a concert hall. Here’s a passage I’ll quote:
The Rock Church, also known as Temppeliaukio Church, is located at Temppeliaukio Square in central Helsinki. Carefully designed by the architect brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen, it is the only church in the world built into rock, and one of Helsinki’s most famous, not-to-be-missed attractions.
Historical background
The Rock Church was completed in February 1969. In fact, a plan to build a church here existed as early as 1930, but it was forced to halt when World War II broke out. After the war, the current design was chosen through an open competition. Everyone who comes here marvels at this uniquely creative masterpiece, finding it hard to imagine how the interior of a single solid block of rock was carved into a church.
Architectural beauty
Standing outside the church, what greets your eyes is a massive rock; you see none of the spires or bell towers a typical church has, and you might not even notice the church is there, with only a pale-blue copper dome more than 20 meters in diameter exposed at the very top of the rock. This is because the church was built into a huge rock: after the rock was hollowed out, a glass roof was built above it for natural lighting, and the church’s outer walls are the rock itself.
The church entrance is designed as a tunnel, with the interior walls still being the original rock. The whole church looks like a landed flying saucer, very peculiar. The roof uses a dome design supported by a hundred radial beams, inlaid with transparent glass, so with the natural lighting you don’t feel at all like you’re inside a rock.
The Rock Church, also known as Temppeliaukio Church, is located at Temppeliaukio Square in central Helsinki. Carefully designed by the Suomalainen architect brothers, it is the only church in the world built into rock, and one of Helsinki’s most famous, not-to-be-missed attractions.
Uspenski Cathedral
Uspenski Cathedral was, of all the churches I visited over these few days, the one with the most ornate interior. The cathedral was fairly close to where we stayed; we just walked over.
Here I’ll quote an introduction from Mafengwo:
Helsinki’s Uspenski Cathedral, in the capital of Finland, was built between 1862 and 1868. Its golden-green domes and red-brick walls are striking, in the Russian architectural style. The cathedral’s colors and design are full of mystery. The Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral sits in central Helsinki, and its thirteen golden domes, together with the elegant old red-brick exterior, stand out in Helsinki’s skyline, highlighting a trace of the mark Russia left on Finland’s religion. The conspicuous golden domes and red-brick church look especially solemn, and the two large trees beside it set off the cathedral beautifully, a perfect testament to how Russian flavor seeped into Finnish history. The finely crafted vaulted ceiling and granite columns are the two great features of Uspenski Cathedral; the paintings inside were all done by Russian painters, fully preserving the artistic style of traditional Orthodox churches.
Senate Square / Helsinki Cathedral
There actually isn’t much to see at Senate Square / Helsinki Cathedral. The interior of the cathedral, compared with Uspenski Cathedral, is far less impressive; only the square in front of the church is somewhat worth a look. This cathedral is also called the White Church.
The National Museum of Finland
Riding the tram and wandering around at random, I suddenly found myself at the National Museum of Finland, so I went in for a look. The National Museum of Finland mainly introduces Finland’s history and development; comparatively, it has few art exhibits and is a bit less of a visual treat, but it’s still a good way to kill time.
Tram City Loop
In Finland you can buy a ticket directly; the ticket is valid for two hours, and you can ride as you please, so the best approach is a tram tour around the city.
The Havis Amanda statue, Daughter of the Baltic
In front of the National Music Hall
In front of the hottest trending restaurant, the street view before the glass house