Northern and Western Districts

To the north of Helsinki, at the junction of Helsinginkatu with Mannerheimintie, is the old Trade Fair Hall, and beyond this the Olympic Stadium (1938), with a 72m/235ft high tower (elevator) from which there is a magnificent view of the city. In the Stadium can be found the Finnish Sport Museum, and in front of the entrance is a statue (by W. Aaltonen, 1952) of the great runner Paavo Nurmi (1897-1973). To the east of the Stadium is the Swimming Stadium and to the north, the Ice Stadium. Beyond the lawn in front of the Swimming Stadium lies the Municipal Park, a sea of blossom in summer.

To the east of Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, beyond the railroad line, is the Linnanmäki amusement park, with a water tower, a switchback and a giant wheel which, along with the nearby Television Tower, form a striking group on Helsinki's skyline.The park opened in 1950 and has continually renovated and improved the rides, shows, shops, and restaurants.

In the north and west districts of Helsinki is the House of Culture, designed by Alvar Aalto, with acoustics which are among the best in Europe. Behind extends a small park, perhaps the only Lenin Park in Western Europe.

At about the level of Helsinki's Olympic Stadium, Linnankoskenkatu branches off Mannerheimintie on the left. At the far end of this street, on the right, is Lastenlinna (the "Children's Castle"), a home and training center for handicapped children (Mannerheim Children's Hospital).

From Lastemlinna in Helsinki, Merikannontie runs south past the Sibelius Park, in which is the Sibelius Memorial (by Eila Hiltunen, 1967), an eye-catching work of sculpture in steel. This at first aroused criticism for its radical departure from the conventional type of memorial, and by way of compromise the sculptor added a bust of the composer.

At the junction of Arkadiankatu with Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu in Helsinki is the Sibelius Academy (Conservatoire). Nearby is the Zoological Museum.As the only music university in Finland, Sibelius Academy provides higher education in the field of music and is committed to upholding Finland's musical culture and cultural heritage.

From Hietaniemi cemetary, Hietaniemenkatu returns towards the center of Helsinki. On the left is the Crematorium (by B. Liljeqvist, 1927), with a grove for ash-urns behind it. Hietaniemenkatu then runs into Mechelininkatu: turn left along this street and then right into Arkadiankatu. At the next intersection, on the left, is the Finnish Business School, in front of which can be seen a fountain, "Profit" (by A. Tukiainen, 1954); on the right is the Swedish Business School.

Down the coast from Helsinki's Sibelius Memorial are the Rowing Stadium and the beautiful sandy beach of Hietaniemi. Beyond this lies Hietaniemi cemetery (a military cemetery as well as a civil one), on the highest point of which is a cross commemorating the fallen. Here too Marshal Mannerheim (1867-1951) is buried.Near the entrance are the graves of the politicians Risto Ryti, Väinö Tanner, T. M. Kivimäki and E. Linkomies, who - as a condition of the 1944 armistice - were tried by a Finnish court for their political activities during the war and were given prison sentences.

Along Fredrikinkatu, to the left, is Helsinki's Rock Church (Taivallahdenkirkko | Temppeliaukio; by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen, 1968-69), an underground church blasted out of the native granite. It has a shallow circular dome (13m/43ft high at its highest point) of copper sheeting and glass borne on concrete ribs. The church is also used as a concert hall.