Latvia - Rundale Palace in Latvia
Foto: The Helsinki Cathedral at Senate Square (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Finland - Helsinki Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran church located at Senate Square in Helsinki. The bishop of Helsinki has his seat there. The building was designed by Carl Ludwig Engel in the neoclassical style. Engel designed the entire square. Construction lasted from 1830 to 1852. The church was built as a tribute to Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. Until Finland’s independence in 1917, it was called St. Nicholas Church. Afterwards, it was known as the Great Church until the building gained cathedral status in 1959. The church has a symmetrical floor plan in the shape of a Greek cross. In the center is a round tower with a 62-meter high dome, surrounded by four smaller domed towers. Above each of the four entrances stand three statues of apostles, thus representing all twelve apostles.
Lapland the north of Finland
Finland - Contrasts are an important factor in Lapland’s appeal. The hustle and bustle of cities and ski resorts lie just minutes away from the peace and quiet of nature. Snow is guaranteed in Finnish Lapland. Snow remains for up to six months a year. On clear ...
The meeting with Santa Claus
Finland - Across the road lies Santa Claus Village. This park is located exactly on the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Circle sits just above the 66th parallel north and marks the boundary where, on the longest day of June, the sun shines for 24 hours a day. This is ...
Wooden town center of Porvoo
Finland - Porvoo is one of the oldest towns in Finland. The town is located about fifty kilometers northeast of the Finnish capital Helsinki. When we arrive by boat from Helsinki into the harbor, the large flow of tourists immediately stands out. The old town center ...