Helsinki Statue Walk

Alexander II

One way to see Helsinki and at the same time learn some facts about the city as well as the country is to take a walk from one statue to another - a statue walk! This is preferably done kesäaikaan. The names of the statues are here intentionally simplified/personified, and any additional information is found by clicking at the links - as else this article would become far too long.

You could start your statue walk at the Senate Square with Alexander II. Walk from there toward the market square Kauppatori to see the Keisarinnankivi and Charinna Alexandra - the oldest statue in Helsinki. Then turn right, and you have the Helsinki park avenue Esplanaadi in front of you. The first statue here is Havis Amanda - a central point of celebration for students every May Day. Puiston keskellä you will meet the national poet Runeberg, and if you walk a little further, the author Eino Leino.

Havis Amanda Inaugural in 1908

From Esplanaadi take right, and walk the Helsinki Main Street, i.e. Mannerheimintie till you reach the Kolmen Sepän patsas, the Three Smith statue. From there straight on to Mannerheim, the 6th president of Finland. Before seeing some more presidents, you could take a detour towards right, and go and see Kivimiehet at the Railway station, and then Finland's national author Aleksis Kivi at the Railway square. Or just continue on the main street, and go and say hello to presidents #3 Svinhuvfud and #1 Ståhlberg in front of the Parliament building. A little further in his own little park you will find #4, Kyösti Kallio.

Cross the street again and have a nice walk in a slightly larger park, Hesperianpuisto - but before that check the UKK momunent. Keep on walking towards the Opera House, and then cross the street facing the Olympic Stadium. There you will find the great long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi.
Hope you enjoyed the walk - as much as he enjoyed the running!
 

FROM  ALEXANDER  II  TO  PAAVO  NURMI
1. Aleksanteri II:n patsas (Senaatintori, 1894) Senate Square
2. Keisarinnankivi (Kauppatori, 1835) Market Square
3. Havis Amanda (Esplanaadi, 1908) Esplanaadi
4. Runebergin patsas (Esplanaadi, 1885) Esplanaadi
5. Eino Leinon patsas (Esplanaadi, 1953) Esplanaadi
6. Kolmen sepän patsas (Aleksanterinkatu, 1932) Mannerheimintie
7. Ratsastajapatsas (Kiasma, 1960) Mannerheimintie
8. Kivimiehet (Rautatieasema, 1914) Railway station
9. Aleksis Kiven muistopatsas (Rautatientori, 1939) Railway station
10. P.E.Svinhufvud (Eduskuntatalo, 1961) Mannerheimintie
11. K.J.Ståhlberg  (Eduskuntatalo,1959) Mannerheimintie
12. Kyösti Kallio (Eduskuntatalo, 1962) Mannerheimintie
13. Urho Kekkosen muistomerkki (Hakasalmen puisto, 2000) Mannerheimintie
14. Paavo Nurmen patsas (Olympiastadion, 1925) Mannerheimintie

Here you can find more Helsinki statues and monuments. Check also this interesting statue tour (with pictures).

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary
aivan liian pitkä = liiga pikk = far too long
eduskuntatalo = riigikogu = the parliament house
keisari, tsaari = tsaar = czar, tsar
keisarinna = czarina, tsaritsa
kestävyysjuoksija = pikamaajooksja = long-distance runner
kesäaikaan = suveperioodil = summertime
kiertotie = kõrvaltee = detour
kirjailija = kirjanik, autor = author, writer
kävely = käik, jalutuskäik = walk
käänny oikealle = pööra paremale = turn right
mieluiten = meelsamini = preferably
patsas = kuju, monument = statue
presidentti = president = president
puisto = park = park
puiston keskellä, keskellä puistoa = keset parki = in the middle of the park
seppä = sepp = smith
tarkoituksella = sihilikult = intentionally, on purpose 
vappu = volbripäev = May Day
ylittää katu = teed ületada,  üle tee minna = to cross a street