Monthly Supplement | Helsinki’s finest street layout can now be admired from a new location in Kallio

Helsinki the most metropolitan view opens from Tähtitorninmäki to the north down Kopernikustie.

Two and a half kilometers of straight street opens up ahead. The view is piercing Angel’s empire landscape. After that, the street climbs up to the worker’s Kallio, by Lars Sonck at the foot of the lofty granite church.

Kopernikustenie continues as Unioninkatu, which flanks the Esplanadi park, the Market Square, the Senate Square, the university, the National Library, the Cathedral and the Botanical Garden. Then Unioninkatu turns into Pitkäsilla and further into Siltasaarenkatu.

The amazing straight has a name, although it is less often heard: Unioninaksel.

Union axis is the most impressive outline of Helsinki’s town plan. The southern part of Pitkäsilta can already be seen in the grid plan of the early 19th century.

Its drawn JA Ehrenström. The capital had just been moved from Turku to Helsinki. We had to get wider streets and more spacious squares. A little big world atmosphere in a small town.

The northernmost part of the axis was planned later at the end of the 19th century. The working people needed apartments, Helsinki grew up on the cliffs Kallio.

The name Unioninakseli refers to that phase of Finnish history that NATO-Finland does not like to remember. The name was given by the Russian emperor Alexander I. Finland had become an autonomous part of the Russian Empire. Alexander wanted to name the street to celebrate the new union.

This summer, Helsinki’s most New York view can be admired from the opposite end, from north to south. Kallio’s church tower was recently opened to the public. There are 273 steps up to a height of 64 meters.

The Kallio church tower can be accessed from Wednesday to Friday by making an appointment. On Saturdays and festival days, such as Helsinki Day on June 12, the tower can be accessed by queuing. The tour has an age limit of 18 years.