Senate Square, Helsinki
Finland
Senate Square 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 , the oldest building of central Helsinki dating from 1757.
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. In Autumn 2010, a United Buddy Bears exhibition with 142 bears was displayed on the historic square.
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.
Several buildings near Senate Square are managed by the government real estate provider, Senate Properties. 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.