June 6-11, 2009, Finland-Sweden-Estonia
A trip to the capitals of three countries washed by the Baltic Sea
June 6, 2009 – Helsinki – the capital of Finland founded by Swedish king Gustav in 1550. Helsinki’s center is the Senate Square brimmed with majestic buildings forming one ensemble in Empire style. In the middle of the square there is a monument to Emperor Alexander II; above the square Lutheran Cathedral rises; the main building of the Helsinki University, the University Library and the Palace of the State Council are also here. One hundred meters away from the Senate Square there is the Market Square (Kauppattori) — the most vivid and busiest place in Helsinki. The most interesting sites of the city — the Finland Palace, a church hewn in a rock on the Temppeliaukio Square, a monument to Sibelius, the Dormition Cathedral, the Olympic Stadium and the New Opera Palace. The sea is an indispensable part of Helsinki’s city landscape. The shore line of the city is almost 100 kilometers long, while there are around 300 islands in the offshore zone. Helsinki’s port, through which cargoes are shipped and boats make their regular scheduled trips to destinations around the entire Baltic region, is the biggest one in Finland and has an enormous significance.
June 7-8, 2009 – Stockholm – the capital of Sweden, and administrative center and port in the Baltic Sea — serves as the commercial, financial, transportation, cultural and administrative center of the country. Its population is 693,000 people. Together with the cities of Södertälje, Solna and others it forms a metropolis Big Stockholm with the population of 1.6 million people. Stockholm was founded in 1252, and since the end of XIII century has been the regular residency of the king. It became the permanent capital of the independent Swedish state after the breaking of the Kalmar Union in 1523. Stockholm is built on water, that is, on two dozens of islands. Water splashes all over the city, and it is hard to guess whether it is the salty water of the Baltic Sea or the plain water of the Mälaren Lake. Stockholm, undoubtedly, is one of the most beautiful capitals of the world. Within the city limits and in its nearest vicinity there are huge territories of virgin nature such as forests, meadows, lakes and springs. The first National City Park— the Royal Ecology Park is located here; it is a vast solid piece of nature with riches of exotic flora and fauna and numerous cultural monuments. In Sweden much attention is paid to the environment; the streets and parks of the city are amazingly clean. The city was initially built on an island, which is known now under the name of Gamla stan (Old City). In the old city one can see the entire history of Sweden spread before his eyes. Here are the Riddarholmen Church, which is the traditional site of burials of Swedish monarchs, the Knight’s House — the most beautiful building in the city built in Baroque style in XVII century, the St Nicholas Cathedral that since XV century served as the place of coronation of the Swedish kings, the majestic and beautiful Kings’ Palace with its numerous places of note including the Armory and the Treasury. In Stockholm there are more than seventy museums. Among the most famous is Vasa Museum where the wonderful flagship of XVII century is standing fully equipped; Skansen is the oldest outdoor museum in the world with patterns of wooden architecture; historical museum; water museum “Aquaria” good to visit for both children and adults. It is worth dropping by the National, Art and Architecture Museums, the Museum of Modern Art and the Thielska Galleriet. In Stockholm there are the Royal Swedish Academy of Science, university and several other theaters.
June 9-10 – Tallinn – the capital of Estonia is a big railway hub and port in the Baltic Sea. The port city stretches along the shores of two Gulfs. The population of Tallinn is around 442 thousand people. Tallinn has been known since 1154 (in Russian chronicles under the name of Kolyvan; in Lithuanian ones — Lyndanise). In 1219-1917, the official name of the city was Revel. In XIII-XVI centuries Revel was under Denmark, then Sweden, and in 1710 was joined to Russia. Since 1918, Tallinn is the capital of Estonia. After the WWII the city was the capital of the Estonian SSR, until Estonia regained its independence in 1991. There are the Academy of Science of Estonia, four universities (including a conservatory), five theaters (including the Estonia Theater of Opera and Ballet), nineteen museums (Historical, Navy, Natural, Park-museum of Folk Architecture and Way of Life, Memorial museum of A. Tammsaare and E. Wilde, house-museum of M. Raud and F. Tuglas and others) here. An ancient part of the city – Vyshgorod (XIII-XVI) – occupies a big hill from where one can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the entire Tallinn. An old Toompea Castle (XIII-XVI) with the “Tall German” tower and Gothic Dome Church (ХIII-XV) are located here. The Raenoja Square — the center of the Lower City — is the real nook of the Middle Ages. In the Lower City there is the City Hall (XIV-XV), the building of the Big Guild (XV), gothic kirks: Oleviste (XV – beginning of XVI), Niguliste (ХIII-XV) and Pühavaimu (Holy Ghost; XIV), city fortifications (XIV-XVI), numerous private houses (XV-XVIII), Kadriorg Palace (XVIII). Abundance of monuments of architecture makes the city unique. In the vicinities of Tallinn in the Rocca al Mare Open Air Museum monuments of Estonian folk architecture are exhibited.