Helsinki – the White Capital of the North
Not far from the Parliament on the right side of Mannerheim’s avenue there is Congress Hall “Finlandia” or “Finlandia Talo”, built by a great architect Alvar Aalto between 1971 and 1975. It has large halls for different social and cultural events. Concerts of classical music are regularly held in this Hall.
One can be also amazed at the splendor of the Presidential Palace. It was built in 1818. Until 1917 it was the residence of the Russian Tsars. In front of the Presidential Palace there is a monument to Tsar Alexander II. Like in some other countries, when the president is inside the palace, on the top of it there is always the state flag flying. Behind the iron-cast railing deep in the yard there is the main post of the Finnish guards. You can watch the changing of the guard from the Market Square.
The church on Temppeliaukio Square, also called the rock-temple is hewn in a stone mountain mass. The main feature of its décor is the underside of the roof made of brass plates. This church does not even have a cupola. The temple-rock is probably the most successful monument of architecture in the Modern Style. The church was constructed in just one year by the project of Finnish architects Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen. In 1969 the church was sanctified and quite soon it received a status of an “international church”. The church has the best acoustics in the world. It is a frequent venue for organ and symphonic music concerts.
Science Center “Heureka” – is a unique complex of educational shows and entertainment which is unrivaled in the Northern Europe. Here you can touch everything with your hands, try different simulators and “working” exhibits. The main exposition makes visitors familiar with the structure of a human body, laws of physics and natural phenomena. The visitors can participate in the process of making paper or turn the energy wheel. In “Heureka” you can travel through the Universe. Theater of emotions “Vern” is both a planetarium and a movie theater. Heureka’s Park is a location of constant subject exhibitions. A collection of minerals and samples of the natural resources of Finland is displayed here. In a science shop “Magnet” you can purchase many interesting items, toys and souvenirs.