Esplanadi
Designed by the architect Carl Ludwig Engel, the park was originally opened in 1818. In 1827, Engels Teater (the predecessor of the Swedish Theatre), the first theatre building in Helsinki, also designed by Engel, was erected in a corner of the park. Centered in the park is a statue of Johan Ludvig Runeberg, the national poet of Finland, by his son Walter Runeberg. Other public art pieces include works by Viktor Jansson, Gunnar Finne and Lauri Leppänen.
The eastern end of the park houses the Kappeli restaurant, which opened in 1867. In front of the restaurant is an outdoor stage, which hosts numerous live music performances. Other prestigious restaurants on the edge of the park include Restaurant Olo on Pohjoisesplanadi and Savoy Restaurant on Eteläesplanadi.
Gallery
-
The Esplanadi park; on the left the statue of Johan Ludvig Runeberg
-
The Esplanadi park during the winter
-
The flowers at the park in May
-
Finnish student celebrating vappu at the park
-
Restaurant Kappeli
-
A view of Esplanadi in the center of Helsinki in 1891