Senate Square (Senaatintori)

At the head of Senate Square is the stately white cathedral, the most important sight in Helsinki. The expansive steps in front of the cathedral are a popular meeting point and also a wonderful place to take in the view and take a short break from walking.
Since 1894, Walter Runeberg's bronze statue of Czar Alexander II stands in the middle of Senate Square. Facing the square from the cathedral one sees the university (1832) in typical architecture to the right, which, like the cathedral, was built... by Carl Ludwig Engel. To the north is the adjoining university library, which was also designed by Engel. On the eastern side of the square, one sees the Government Palace, where the government is based today. In the southeast corner is the relatively unassuming Sederholm House. Erected in 1757, it is the oldest stone building in the city. more

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