From the late 12th century until 1809, Finland was part of Sweden. This is reflected in the fact that all the street signs are in Finnish and Swedish. The two languages are not similar at all. One guide told us the Finnish language is closer to Estonian.
Helsinki has been the Finnish capital since 1812, when it was rebuilt by the tsars of Russia along the lines of a miniature St. Petersburg, a role it has played in movies like Warren Beatty’s Reds. The architecture thus has Russian and Swedish influences.
Senate Square houses Helsinki Cathedral, Government Palace and the University of Helsinki. The cathedral was originally built from 1830-1852 as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. It was also known as St. Nicholas’ Church until the independence of Finland in 1917. The cathedral was modeled after Saint Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
This is either the University of Helsinki or Government Palace. I’ve studied photos of both and can barely distinguish them.
A statue of Emperor Alexander II is located in the center of the square. The statue, erected in 1894, was built to commemorate his re-establishment the Diet of Finland in 1863.
The base of the statue.
There were tram wires everywhere. This is one of the longest trams I’ve ever seen.
Not far from Senate Square we found this colorful site:
A closer look:
Not sure what’s growing with the ivy. It looks like balloon flower, maybe.
Thought this was so charming.
These shoe planters were close behind.
Hope your week’s going well so far.
{carole}
Pearls & Prose 
very cool and colorful buildings 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
Very interesting, photos helped me to feel the atmosphere of this country! I like it very much!
Glad to hear it. Thanks for the visit and comment!
Any idea why the buildings tend to be so brightly colored. It’s something I always wonder about when I see images from Sweden and Finland. I know that the Swedes flag is yellow and blue. You think that has anything to do with it?
I have no idea, but I love those colors. So much more interesting than industrial gray.
The top of Alexander II’s head makes a nice vantage point for that seagull 🙂
It must be a favorite perch, because I’ve seen other people’s photos and a seagull was there. 🙂
I like pastels; charming little city; very Euro! Good job.
I do too. 🙂
How colourful. I never pictured it to be like that.
You know, our trams are easily twice as long.
Look at this:
http://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/blaulicht/junger-mann-auf-basler-tramhaltestelle-angegriffen-3569801
And that’s only one part. 🙂
Wow, Caroline! How on earth do they navigate those narrow streets?
It’s the latest in tram technology. 🙂 They are not even noisy anymore – the old ones screetched on the rails.
Yes, the cable cars in San Francisco are pretty noisy too.