Helsinki landmarks

Today is my last full day in Helsinki before returning home, so I wanted to get a good look at a few more landmarks.

The University Library just north of Senate Square is a beautiful building, opened in 1840, designed by the city architect, Carl Engel.

Engel also designed this building for what is now the University of Helsinki, on the west side of Senate Square.

This 1890 building, called the House of Estates, is located just northeast of Senate Square.

This is the Palace of the Council of State, first opened in 1822, located on the east side of Senate Square. I'm told that this square was used for location sites to evoke St. Petersburg for Warren Beatty's film "Reds."

A few blocks south on Market Square is the famous Kappeli Cafe, which opened in 1867. I stopped for cappuccino.

The Swedish Theatre a few blocks west of Market Square was built in 1866.

I liked these temporary construction fences portraying a French village street.

I'm not crazy about these commercial signs plastered all over office buildings. This one is across the street from the Swedish Theatre. I'm not sure what to think about that statue, which reminds me of the Soviet Realism I saw in Bratislava last fall.

NOTE: Click on any image in this blog to see it full-size.