Helsinki is the capital, largest and most populous city in Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the Uusimaa region in southern Finland. Approximately 0.67 million people live in the municipality, with 1.25 million in the capital region, and 1.58 million in the metropolitan area. The region is by far the most populous urban area in Finland and the country's most important centre for politics, education, finance, culture and research. Helsinki is located 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Tallinn, Estonia, 362 km north of Riga, Latvia 400 km (250 mi) east of Stockholm, Sweden, and 300 km (190 mi) west of Saint Petersburg, Russia. It has close historical links with these four cities.
Johan Ludvig Runeberg was a Finnish priest, lyric and epic poet. He wrote exclusively in Swedish. He is considered a national poet of Finland. He is the author of the lyrics to Vårt land which became an unofficial Finnish national anthem. Runeberg was also involved in the modernization of the Finnish Lutheran hymnal and produced many texts for the new edition.
Helsinki Cathedral is the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the neighborhood of Kruununhaka in the centre of Helsinki, Finland, at the Senate Square. The church was originally built from 1830 to 1852 as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Tsar Nicolas I. It was also known as St Nicholas's Church until Finland declared its full independence in 1917. It is a major landmark of the city, and one of the most famous historical structures in Finland as a whole when viewed globally.
The Presidential Palace is one of the three official residences of the president of the Republic of Finland. It is situated in Helsinki, on the north side of Esplanadi, overlooking Market Square.
Senate Square presents Carl Ludvig Engel's architecture as a unique allegory of political, religious, scientific and commercial powers in the centre of Helsinki, Finland.
The Swedish Theatre is a Swedish-language theatre in Helsinki, Finland, and is located at the Erottaja square, at the end of Esplanadi. It was the first national stage of Finland.
Ateneum is an art museum in Helsinki, Finland and one of the three museums forming the Finnish National Gallery. It is located in the centre of Helsinki on the south side of Rautatientori square close to Helsinki Central railway station. It has the biggest collections of classical art in Finland. Before 1991 the Ateneum building also housed the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts and University of Art and Design Helsinki.
Kaartinkaupunki is a neighbourhood in the southern part of Helsinki, Finland.
The Old Church of Helsinki, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel and completed in 1826, is an Evangelical Lutheran church in Helsinki. The oldest existing church in central Helsinki, the church was originally planned as a temporary building as the Ulrika Eleonora Church constructed in 1727 had become too small for the congregation and the new church, Helsinki Cathedral, would not be completed until 1852. However, the city's rapid population growth from the early 19th century onwards ensured that the church would remain needed, and also necessitated the construction of many other churches.
Bulevardi is a boulevard in Helsinki, Finland. It starts at Erottaja and ends at Hietalahdentori. The majority of the boulevard is located in the western part of the Kamppi neighborhood and a small part of Punavuori. Restaurants, cafes, and art galleries line the street. The Alexander Theatre and Sinebrychoff Museum of Art are located on Bulevardi.
Walter Magnus Runeberg was a Finnish neo-classical sculptor. He was the son of Finnish national epic poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg.
Fredrika Charlotta Runeberg was a Finnish (Finland-Swedish) novelist and journalist. She was a pioneer of Finnish historical fiction and one of the first woman journalists in Finland.
Runeberginkatu is a major street in central Helsinki, Finland. Starting from Kampintori, it runs in a sweeping arc broadly northwards for approximately 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) through the districts of Kamppi and Töölö, via Töölöntori square, terminating at a junction with Mannerheimintie by the Finnish National Opera.
The Statue of Johan Ludvig Runeberg is a statue dedicated to the Finland-Swedish author, national poet and priest Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804–1877), designed and sculpted by his son Walter Runeberg (1838–1920). The statue is located in the Esplanadi park in Helsinki.
The Eino Leino is a statue of Eino Leino (1878–1926) sculpted by Lauri Leppänen in the Esplanadi Park in Helsinki, Finland. It is located in the northeast corner of Teatteriesplanadi, close to the intersection of the Pohjoisesplanadi and Mikonkatu streets.
Savoy is a restaurant in Helsinki, Finland, located on the Eteläesplanadi street. The restaurant opened on 3 June 1937. It is located in a space designed by Finnish architects Aino and Alvar Aalto, and furnished by the company Artek, which they had founded two years earlier. It was renovated in 2019. The Savoy is considered a hallmark of Finnish cuisine.
Kappeli, also known as Esplanadikappeli, is a restaurant in central Helsinki, Finland at the eastern end of the Esplanadi park, opened in 1867. The restaurant was known as a local favourite among poets, writers and artists during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In August 2020 the building changed ownership from the city of Helsinki to HOK-Elanto, who currently also owns the restaurant itself.
Kolmikulma, also known as the Diana Park, is a small, rectangular triangular-shaped park located in the Kaartinkaupunki district in the city center of Helsinki, Finland. It is limited by the Yrjönkatu, Uudenmaankatu and Erottajankatu streets. The park was renovated in 2006 and 2007.
Alexander II is a monumental statue located at the Senate Square in central Helsinki, Finland.
The Esplanadi park; on the left the statue of Johan Ludvig Runeberg
The Esplanadi park during the winter
The flowers at the park in May
Finnish student celebrating vappu at the park
Restaurant Kappeli
A view of Esplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891
