Senate Square, Helsinki

In the 17th and 18th-centuries, the west side was the location of a church and a graveyard. 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. 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. 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. ==Statue of Alexander II==

. 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 the Russian Empire's rule. The statue comprises Alexander on a pedestal surrounded by figures representing law, culture, and peasants. The sculptor was Walter Runeberg. During the trials of 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". File:Aleksanteri II-n muistopatsaan paljastustilaisuus Senaatintorilla 1894-04-29 - N1170 (hkm.HKMS000005-km0031rl).jpg|Reveal of the statue of Alexander II, 29 April 1894 File:Panoraama Nikolainkirkon (nykyisen Tuomiokirkon) tornista etelään - N505 (hkm.HKMS000005-0000011a).jpg|View from the tower of the cathedral towards southwest in 1909 File:Panoraama Nikolainkirkon (= Tuomiokirkon) tornista kaakkoon. vas - N504 (hkm.HKMS000005-0000011b).jpg|View to the southeast in 1909 File:Valkoisen armeijan paraati Senaatintorilla Helsingin valtauksen jälkeen 16.5.1918 (hkm.HKMS000005-km002qnb).jpg|Parade of the White Guard on 16 May 1918 after the Battle of Helsinki File:Juha Jernvall - Demonstration by the unions at the Senate Square during a general strike.jpg|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. In Autumn 2010, a United Buddy Bears exhibition with 142 bears was displayed on the historic square. Digital carillon music () 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. The site aspires to be designated as a World Heritage Site, but a single building in its southwest corner prevents it. {{gallery ==In popular culture==

Film • The title sequence of John Huston's The Kremlin Letter (1970) was filmed over the square at night, including the silhouette of the cathedral. • 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. • 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. Music • The opening sequence of the music video for "Sandstorm" by Darude was filmed on Senate Square, prominently featuring the cathedral in the background. == See also ==