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Helsinki Cathedral

The most famous architectural complex in Helsinki is the Helsinki Cathedral located on Senate Square in the city center and its surrounding pale yellow neoclassical-style buildings. The milky-white cathedral was built in 1852. Its structure is exquisite and its atmosphere is extraordinary. It is called the essence of Finnish architectural art. The cathedral's tall bell tower with light green arches is more than 80 meters above sea level and can be seen at a glance from the sea, making it a symbol of Helsinki. In front of the cathedral is Senate Square, with the Cabinet Building and the University of Helsinki on the east and west sides respectively. Not far to the south is the Presidential Palace, the Supreme Court and the City Hall. In the center of Senate Square, which is paved with ancient stones, stands the bronze statue of Tsar Alexander II built in 1894 to commemorate the extensive autonomy he granted Finland.

Sibelius Monument

Countless urban sculptures can be seen on every street in Helsinki. However, what Finns are most proud of is the monument to Sibelius, the famous Finnish composer. This monument is located in the seaside Sibelius Park, surrounded by green pines and cypresses. It is composed of more than 600 silver-white stainless steel tubes, resembling a giant pipe organ, and has become a symbol of the great national musician's immortal works. Whenever the sea breeze blows, the airflow passes through the steel pipe and makes a sometimes high-pitched and sometimes low-pitched wind sound, as if nature is endlessly playing an eternal movement in memory of this musician. A huge metal head of Sibelius is embedded in the red rock on the side, vividly reproducing the heroic image of this great composer. His focused frown and lifelike expression vividly reflect the musician's demeanor when he was creating. This romantic monument is a masterpiece completed by the famous Finnish female sculptor Hiltunen on the tenth anniversary of Sibelius's death in 1967 after six years of hard work. Its small replica was sent to the United Nations Building as a national gift for permanent display.

The famous Finnish composer Silius (1865-1957) has been striving for the rise of Finnish national music throughout his life. His creative works have diverse genres and a wide range of themes, embodying passionate patriotism and a strong national spirit. The unique style full of Nordic sentiment contains the unique simplicity and fragrance emanating from nature. With his overwhelming talent and outstanding achievements, he became one of the greatest symphony and symphonic poetry composers in the 20th century.

Sibelius’s works are quite rich, leaving behind precious musical heritage and national wealth for future generations. He composed more than 100 works in his lifetime, including 7 symphonies, many symphonic poems, 2 operas, as well as violin music, piano music, organ music, brass music, chamber music, solo music and choral music. wait. In 1899, he composed the orchestral tone poem "Ode to Finland" full of patriotic passion. With its majestic momentum and heart-stirring melody, this immortal work depicts the Finnish people's national sentiments of resisting aggression and oppression, yearning for a life of freedom, and yearning for a better life. It still occupies a different level of importance in the hearts of the Finnish people. Location. No matter when and where, whenever Finns hear the majestic and passionate music of "Ode to Finland", their eyes are always filled with crystal tears. During the era of Tsarist Russia, "Ode to Finland" inspired people across the country to fight for independence. After independence, this piece of music inspired the Finnish people to work hard to build their homeland. The publication of "Ode to Finland" caused a sensation in European and American countries and became a treasure in the world's music treasure house. It also had a huge impact on the development of Finnish national music culture. Sibelius made brilliant achievements throughout his life and became the most famous composer in the history of Finnish music, enjoying the reputation of "the father of Finnish music". Sibelius and his immortal works will always be the pride and symbol of Finland.

Suomenlinna

The Suomenlinna fortress is located on an island south of Helsinki and consists of 6 islands. It was a military fortress in history and contained ancient monuments such as open fortresses, dark fortresses, military camps, and cannons. . It is an ancient coastal defense fortress that controls the sea route from the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki. Its geographical location is very important. The island still has castles, ancient forts, barracks and warehouses that were used during World War II. The submarine and cannon museum. Its museums, galleries, cafes and beaches will make your stay on the island unforgettable.

The scenic "Suomenlinna" fortress is an important monument in Finland. It has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO and has become one of Helsinki's important tourist attractions. In summer, ferries frequently travel between the island and the South Pier. Take the ferry from the South Pier in the city center. Only 5 minutes away, people often come here to swim, fish, picnic and sunbathe. In summer, there are not only theatrical performances, but also various cultural activities such as exhibitions and concerts.

Seura Island. There are 18th-century manors in the open-air museum, farmhouses, workshops, shops, churches, bathhouses, mills, etc.

The Ancient Castle of Turku

The most famous ancient buildings in Turku are the ancient castle (Turku Castle) and the cathedral (Turku Cathedral) left over from the Middle Ages. The ancient castle and cathedral are located on the banks of the Aura River, and the ancient castle is located at the mouth of the lower reaches of the Aura River. , the cathedral is in the city center area upstream, far away from the ancient castle.

The simple and majestic castle is built of rocks and is more than ten stories high. The tall exterior walls are without any decoration, showing signs of erosion from years of wind and rain. The ancient castle was built in 1280 and is one of the best-preserved large castles in Northern Europe. The construction project lasted for nearly 300 years. The ancient castle was continuously thickened and raised, and the new castle was expanded in the mid-15th century to form its current scale. The medieval Turku Castle has been the most important military fortress for the Kingdom of Sweden to rule Finland. All 14 kings of Sweden used this place as their royal palace. But this ancient castle has also gone through many vicissitudes of life in history. In the early 17th century, the castle was destroyed by fire and was not completely restored for a long time. 19th century. It was turned into a prison. During World War II, the castle was bombed and severely damaged. After the war, the local government renovated the ancient castle many times, and the most recent large-scale renovation work was completed in 1992.

The ancient castle is currently home to the Turku City Museum and has become an important tourist attraction in Turku, with approximately 200,000 tourists visiting every year. When people come here, they feel like they have returned hundreds of years ago. They can see various treasures left by the princes and nobles, as well as the dungeons where prisoners were held. According to the custom of the time, the staff wore medieval costumes to receive tourists from all over the world. On the top floor of the castle, there are two halls where banquets are often held, namely the King's Hall and the Queen's Hall. There are guards holding spears and wearing armor standing guard here, and there are also waiters in classical national costumes serving guests, giving it a medieval feel.

?land Castle

The ?land Islands is the only autonomous province in Finland. It is located on the southwest coast of Finland and consists of 6,500 small islands with 25,000 residents. Most of them are native speakers of Swedish. The capital of ?land is Mairenhamn, the only city on the islands.

Marine shipping, fishing and tourism are the main sources of income for the island residents. ?land people are often proud of their ancient seafaring traditions. The four-masted sail (Pommern) moored at the west pier of Mariehamn, the capital, is a symbol of ?land and a witness of ?land's ocean-going fleet crossing the sea. It has now been turned into a museum for visitors to visit. The Maritime Museum on ?land Island is one of the best maritime museums in the world. You can also see the construction process of traditional ships in the dock east of Mariehamn.

Dotted with small islands, huge rocks, valleys filled with wildflowers and dense forests, this archipelago is unique. The scenery of ?land is completely different from that of mainland Finland. The island's numerous monuments include medieval castles, churches, and the Bomasund maritime fortress. In 1854, due to the outbreak of the Crimean War, the huge plan to build the fortress was shelved. The half-completed fortress was attacked by the British and French forces from both sea and land. The British and French forces captured the fortress and blew it up. What people can see now are just scattered ruins of the fortress.

?land has a pleasant summer climate and charming natural scenery everywhere. It is a famous tourist destination in Finland. Cycling on the island of ?land is a unique experience. On the island, visitors can rent bicycles and get a map and guide. There are many campsites, resorts and B&Bs to rest along the way. There is also a 36-hole golf course on the island. In addition to playing golf, if you are interested, tourists can also go fishing on the beach and take a boat trip on the sea for hunting.