Senate Square
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After setting Helsinki the capitol of Grand Duchy of Finland, Tsar Alexander I wished to create new quality of the city. He employed Carl Ludvig Engel, German architect, to design new central square together with surrounding buildings, and a general plan of the city.
Reign of Tsar Alexander was a period of quite big Finnish autonomy, and buildings around the square are the proof of it. The Palace of Council State was a seat of Finnish senate, partly independent from Tsar's orders. The most magnificent building, the Lutheral Cathedral, emphasise the fact, that Finns are not Orthodox Catholics. The third one, main building of Helsinki University (Helsingin Yliopisto), was built after the great fire in Turku, which was former capitol. The university was moved to Helsinki, and then it become not only administrative but also educational and cultural centre.
Nowadays Senate square is must-see point for tourist, but also place of citizens meetings. On a square are organised concerts, exhibitions and other event, even snowboard happenings.
