Senate Square (
Finnish: Senaatintori,
Swedish: Senatstorget) presents
Carl Ludvig Engel's architecture as a unique allegory of political, religious, scientific and commercial powers in the centre of
Helsinki, Finland.
Senate Square and its surroundings make up the oldest part of central Helsinki. Landmarks and famous buildings surrounding the square are the
Helsinki Cathedral, the
Government Palace, the main building of the
University of Helsinki and the
Sederholm House [
fi], the oldest building of central Helsinki dating from 1757.[1]
In the 17th and 18th-centuries, the site was the location of a graveyard.[2] In 1812, Senate Square was designated as the main square for the new capital of Helsinki in the city plan designed by
Johan Albrecht Ehrenström.[3] The
Palace of the Council of State (or Government Palace) was completed on the eastern side of Senate Square in 1822. It served as the seat of the
Senate of Finland until it was replaced by the
Council of State in 1918, and now houses the offices of the
Prime Minister of Finland and the
cabinet.
The main
University building, on the opposite side of Senate Square, was constructed in 1832.[4]
Helsinki Cathedral, on the northern edge of Senate Square, was Engel's lengthiest architectural project. He worked on it from 1818 until his death in 1840. The Cathedral — then called the Church of St. Nicholas — dominates Senate Square, and was finalized in 1852, twelve years after Engel's death.[5]
Views of Senate Square.
Engel's 1816–1818 watercolor painting of the old square that was located at the southeast part of the current square. On the right is the town hall and on the left the guard house, behind which is the old Ulrika Eleonora church.[6]
Lithograph of the square from 1838. The guard building in front of the cathedral was demolished in the 1840s and replaced with the large steps.[7]
Sederholm House [
fi], 1757, the oldest building of central Helsinki at the southeast corner of the square
A statue of Emperor
Alexander II is located in the center of the square. The statue, erected in 1894, was built to commemorate his re-establishment of the
Diet of Finland in 1863 as well as his initiation of several reforms that increased Finland's autonomy from Russian Empire. The statue comprises Alexander on a pedestal surrounded by figures representing law, culture, and peasants. The sculptor was
Walter Runeberg.[8]
During the
Russification of Finland between 1899 and 1917, the statue became a symbol of quiet resistance, with people protesting against the decrees of
Nicholas II by leaving flowers at the foot of the statue of his grandfather, then known in Finland as "the good tsar".[9]
After Finland's independence declaration in 1917, demands were made to remove the statue. Later, it was suggested to replace it with the equestrian statue of
Mannerheim currently located on
Mannerheimintie in front of the
Kiasma museum. Nothing came of either of these suggestions, and today the statue is one of the major tourist landmarks of the city and a reminder of the role of
Alexander II in establishing Finnish
statehood for the first time in history.[9][10]
Reveal of the statue of Alexander II, 29 April 1894
View from the tower of the cathedral towards southwest in 1909
Demonstration by the unions at the square during a general strike in 1956
Contemporary role
Today, Senate Square is one of the main tourist attractions of Helsinki. Various art events, ranging from concerts, snow buildings to controversial snow boarding activities, have been set up on Senate Square.[11] In Autumn 2010, a
United Buddy Bears exhibition with 142 bears was displayed on the historic square.[12][13]
Digital
carillon music (
Finnish: Senaatintorin ääni) is played daily at 17:49 at Senate Square. The sound installation was composed by Harri Viitanen, composer and organist of Helsinki Cathedral, and
Jyrki Alakuijala, Doctor of Technology. The optimal listening position is at the proximity of the square's central monument, the bronze statue of Alexander II.[14]
Several buildings near Senate Square are managed by the government real estate provider,
Senate Properties.[15] At the northwest corner there are four short pillars erected each winter to protect the memorial plate of the Ulrika Eleonora church from snow plows.[2][16]
The site aspires to be designated as a
World Heritage Site, but a single building in its southwest corner prevents it.[17][18]
The red building on the left breaks the architectural style of the square
Aerial photograph of the square towards the sea in 2015
Trams travel on the eastern and southern sides of the square, and in this photograph special older models are being used
The square is often a spot for artworks and events like this environmental-awareness raising plastic bag octopus during Helsinki
Night of the Arts 2016
Snow sculpture version of the old Ulrika Eleonora Church being constructed on the square in 2000 (also done once before in 1997)[21]
Red Bull City Flight snowboarding event at the square in 2001
The title sequence of John Huston's The Kremlin Letter (1970) was filmed over the square at night, including the silhouette of the cathedral.[22][23]
American actor and film director
Warren Beatty filmed scenes from his film Reds (1981) on the square — Helsinki playing the role of
Saint Petersburg — but without showing the cathedral.[24]
Snowy night scenes from
Jim Jarmusch's film Night on Earth (1991) were filmed on the square, but given the impression that there is a traffic roundabout at the center.[25]
Music
The opening sequence of the music video for "
Sandstorm" by
Darude was filmed on Senate Square, prominently featuring the cathedral in the background.[26]