"Helsinki in my heart" Helsinki by maria_hz

Helsinki was founded by King Gustaf Wasa as a trading port in the eastern part of the Baltic, to rival the formerly Hanseatic port of Reval (now Tallinn in Estonia). To populate the new town, people were transferred from other parts of the country to settle Helsinki. Helsinki never grew to be a port of the importance envisioned by the king, but nevertheless continued its existence as a trading port and had some significance in national defence as the Swedish-Finnish kingdom wanted to protect itself from the growing might of neighbouring Russia. The fortress on the Suomenlinna island was built as a last bastion to protect the administrative city in Finland, Turku.

Following Sweden's loss of Finland to Russia, the new Russian rulers decided to move the administrative capital from Turku to Helsinki, away from the dangerous proximity of the Swedish capital, Stockholm. Having gained the status of capital of the Finnish grand duchy, Helsinki soon started to grow and the city centre was revamped into what any visitor to Helsinki will recognise. The area around the Senate square with its Russian style empire architecture dates from this period, and is peculiar to Helsinki and St Petersburg.

Walking in the Central Park

Originally established in rather marshy areas with a rather cold microclimate, Helsinki is nowadays a capital with an international feel but with untouched nature within half an hour's driving distance from the city centre. The city itself is very green; the Central Park stretches for kilometers and offer city dwellers a respite from busy roads and crowds. Favourite pasttimes in the Central park are skiing and hiking in the winter, riding and walking in the summer. There are also many other parks around the city centre and the archipelago around the city also offer great escapes from the summer heat on city streets or hiking destinations during winter.

The city is home to about half a million people, most of which were born elsewhere. Helsinki, along with the cities around (Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa) have been net gainers in the migratory flows after the 1940s, as Finland rapidly industrialised. Today, business concentrates on R&D in high-tech areas, trading and services.

Finland being a neutral country, Helsinki has hosted a number of international summits, and continues to this day to host high-profile political events as neutral grounds for partners. Being the capital of Finland, Helsinki also houses embassies and receives international dignitaries.

What endears Helsinki to me is not only its varied past, its beautiful architecture and the abundant greenery. Helsinki also has a dynamic pulsating feel, where anybody can find something they like and enjoy. To me, Helsinki offer big city services with an international yet rather intimate feel. Helsinki is well organised, information is easy to find and there is lots to see and do.

Helsinki offers variation, so anyone can feel at home and fit in, should they choose to do so. This openness to new ideas and thought mean that Helsinki in recent years has become a mecca of sorts for design and culinary development in the Nordic countries. You will see people of all colours and from all walks of life walk around in the city.

However, don't be fooled. Helsinki has much of the fast pace that most capitals in Europe have, and there are criminals in Finland too, even though Finns tend to be very honest. But if you pay attention to the same safety issues as you would in any big capital, you will be fine and can enjoy what Helsinki, and the rest of Finland has to offer!

• Pros:International feel and great nature, well organised and relatively clean
• Cons:Does not have the slow pace to be found in other towns
• In a nutshell:Great sights and abundant nature