Helsinki's Esplanade Park - A Place for Promenades Esplanadi Boulevard, Esplanade Park... however it's called, no visit to Helsinki can be considered complete without a visit to The Esplanade. Without doubt, that this section of Helsinki near the centre of town is a tourist delight. A hundred years ago, and for the hundred years before that, Finland struggled for identity. Long a province of Sweden, then later of Russia, with Lapland in the north, it is a land of many cultures. Nowhere … [Read more...]
Korkeasaari or Helsinki Zoo
August 3, 2010 by
Helsinki Zoo Animals Come All the Way from the Frozen Arctic to the Sweltering Tropics: Known as Korkesaari to the Finns, Helsinki Zoo is far from the largest, even in northern Europe, but it is one of the oldest zoos, having been founded in 1889. It may not be the largest, but Helsinki Zoo is nevertheless a must-not-miss sight for tourists, especially those travelling with kids. The setting alone is worth a visit. Helsinki Zoo is located on Korkeasaari, a small round island, one of … [Read more...]
Helsinki – Finland’s Capital City
July 30, 2010 by
Helsinki, A Fascinating Mixture of Historical and Ultra-Modern: Helsinki, the capital of Finland, has the distinction of being the second northern-most capital city in the world. Although its main attractions and monuments are a stark reminder of its past history, Helsinki today is a very modern city. Although Helsinki has been the capital of Finland 'only' since 1809 when the Russians first took dominion of the city from Sweden, it was originally founded as the town of Helsingfors in … [Read more...]
Uspenski Cathedral – Helsinki's Orthodox Church
June 19, 2010 by
Uspenski Cathedral - Modeled after a 16th century church near Moscow: There are many churches in Helsinki city centre and one of the most notable is the Uspenski Cathedral. A visit to this landmark cathedral in Finland's capital is certainly worthwhile and should be included in your Helsinki things to do list. Completed in 1868, it is reportedly the largest Orthodox Church in Western Europe. Though Finland may not exactly qualify as 'west'. But whatever the status of that record, the church … [Read more...]
Tuomiokirkko – Helsinki Cathedral
June 18, 2010 by
Helsinki's Cathedral Architecture is reminiscent of its time under Russian rule: Tsar Peter of Russia had a well-known impact on St. Petersburg, Russia, the city that bears his name. What is less well-known is the flow-on influence he had on Helsinki. Tsar Peter had been dead for more than a hundred years by the time construction began on Helsinki's famed Lutheran Cathedral. But the architectural stamp his leadership put on St. Petersburg continued on when Finland was held by Russia as a … [Read more...]