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 Cacti, palm trees, rockeries and glasshouses |
1 Hammarskjöldintie Helsinki 00250 Finland +358 9 166 5410 http://www.hkr.hel.fi/viher/ta... |
The City Winter Garden's greenhouses and the surrounding park constitute one of the city's best—known sights. The winter garden is known especially for its exotic palm trees and cacti, as well as its rockeries. The famous greenhouses housing the palm trees were donated by J. J. Lindfors, and this is commemorated with a bust sculpted by Walter Runeberg. The winter garden does not have greenhouses as elegant or beautiful as the University Botanical Gardens boast, but the huge variety of plants contained within, and the lovely terraces in front of the building more than make up for that. The appearance of the greenhouse is also enhanced by the 1868 sculpture of Kullervo Puhuu Miekalleen (Kullervo Addresses his Sword), which stands in front of the building. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Lucas Rocha  |
 Nice place for a stroll |
between Pitkäsilta Bridge and the railway Helsinki 00170-0053 Finland |
The inlet made up of the Kaisaniemenlahti and Eläintarhanlahti bays, between Pitkäsilta Bridge and the railway tracks, is a great area for walks. The streets are wide and in a good condition, and there is plenty to see. Kaisaniemenranta is the most beautiful part of the area, a wide boulevard surrounded by trees, framed on one side by the bay and on the other side by old wooden houses and stunning gardens. At Pitkänsillanranta the sights include the leafy shore and the gorgeous buildings looming above, and as you move further to Säästöpankinranta there are parks and a view to the fountain in the middle of the bay. On the opposite side of the bay lie Tokoinranta and Eläintarhantie, an area known not just for architectural sights such as the Helsinki City Theatre, but also for its parks. Most Helsinkiites know Tokoinlahti for the tent that is erected there during the annual Helsinki Festival, as a venue for performances by top Finnish and international artists. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Montse & Ferran |
 Photo: Montse & Ferran |
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Glorious sight framed by trees and water |
58 Helsinginkatu P. O. Box 176 Helsinki, Southern Finland 00260 Finland +358 (0)9 4030 2211 (Box Office) http://www.operafin.fi |
Completed in 1993, this is one of the greatest works of modern Finnish architecture with a sense of spaciousness and light throughout. There is an outdoor amphitheater facing a park and the opera building often hosts small art exhibitions. Performances sell out quickly. There's free chamber music in the foyer on Saturday and the Alminsali hall hosts smaller operatic, ballet and jazz performances. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Good market hall |
Hakaniemen kauppahalli Helsinki, 00530 Finland +358 9 169 3417 http://www.hakaniemenhalli.fi/ |
Situated on Hakaniemi marketplace, the hall consists of two floors. On the ground floor there are food and flower shops while upstairs are little shops including Marimekko, Pentik and Kalevala Koru, and several beauty, clothing and craft shops. Downstairs there are several butchers, bakers, fishmongers and fruit, vegetable, flower and cheese shops as well as delicatessens. Some shops have organic products. There are also lunch places in the hall. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Jyri Engestrom |
 Photo: Rebecca Marx |
 Good marketplace in Hakaniemi |
6 Sörnäisten rantatie Hakaniemi Helsinki 00530 Finland |
Kauppatori was previously dominated by upper-class shoppers, whereas Hakaniemi was dominated by the working classes. Nowadays this has changed, and while many tourists favour Kauppatori, a lot of the locals living in Helsinki regularly go to Hakaniemi marketplace instead. Here you will find for example flowers, pastries, vegetables, fruit and berries. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Taneli Mielikäinen |
 Photo: Suvi Korhonen |
 Photo: Hanna Birna Geirmund |
 Photo: Kanttila |
 Two weeks of cultural events |
22-24 Mannerheimintie Lasipalatsi (Organisers) Helsinki, Southern Finland 00100 Finland +358 9 6126 5100 http://www.helsinkifestival.fi |
The Sibelius Week, begun in 1951, eventually evolved into the two-week Helsinki Festival, held every year towards the end of the summer (August-September). It attracts several hundred thousand visitors every year, and covers all art forms. Enjoy classical music at Finlandia Hall and the Sibelius Academy. Movies and poetry readings, theater performances and art shows can be enjoyed at various venues. The Piazza of Tastes gathers some of Helsinki's best restaurants onto Senate Square. One highlight of the festival is the Night of the Arts. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Niklas Backman |
 Majestic Kallio church |
2 Itäinen Papinkatu Helsinki 00530 Finland +358 9 753 2086 http://www.helsinginseurakunna... |
The spectacular Kallio church was designed by well-known architect Lars Sonck at the end of the nineteenth century. It was built of grey granite in 1912 onto a high place from where its handsome tower looms over the city. The bells of the tower play a melody composed by Jean Sibelius. Inside the church are numerous interesting details such as a crucifix and relief made by sculptor Hannes Autere. In 1990 the church got an urn cemetery, where urns are temporarily preserved and then transferred into a special stone grave under the church. This restored the old tradition of burying the deceased under the church floor. Kallio church is also known as a centre for organ music in Helsinki, the acoustics are excellent. The church has two organs—the main one represents the French Romantic style, and the other one is Baroque. These organs have been noticed and played by internationally known top organists. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Stunning place to relax and learn |
44 Unioninkatu Helsinki 00170 Finland +358 9 1912 4453 http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/en... |
The University Botanical Gardens are a park within a park — an area of leafy trees, small footpaths and beautiful flowers and bushes. It is also the home of Finland's greatest botanical collection. The gardens came to Helsinki when the university changed locations after the great fire of Turku. The gorgeous greenhouses have been restored several times over the years, most extensively after the 1944 air raids. The gardens, designed by St. Petersburg architect Franz Falderman in the 1830s, are best known for their gorgeous C. L. Engel—designed main greenhouse, the central dome of which looms elegantly on the Kaisaniemi horizon. It is home to numerous tropical plants (cacti, orchids, royal water lily, cocoa), whereas the outdoor plants are from more temperate climates. The garden's main entrance is on Kaisaniemenranta, a boulevard that follows Kaisaniemi Bay, which is lined with old Empire—style wooden houses. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Maxim Dolgobrod |
 Photo: hugovk |
 Photo: Laura I. Kansanen |
 Photo: Daniel Stone |
 Photo: smugglersuk |
 Photo: Karri Ojanen |
 Photo: Hannah Frank |
 Photo: Sanam Petri |
 Photo: Taneli Ruda |