Lovisa

The Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea is a large bay in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea, between Finland and Estonia, and stretches to Russia in the east. The Baltic Gulf of Finland has cruise ships and ferry terminals, and behind the pier there are markets selling seafood and Finnish-inspired souvenirs. Especially the antique-style Viking fleet is very interesting.

Explore Helsinki's famous Suurkirkko, also called Helsinki Cathedral, a neoclassical masterpiece of western and Russian styles designed by one of Finland's greatest architects, Carl Ludvig Engel. Survey the Senate Square below you from this magnificent building, originally called St. Nicholas' Church upon its completion in 1852 to honor Nicholas I, Czar of Russia, but renamed when Finland gained its independence in 1917. Discover why more than 350,000 people visit this church each year, with its distinctive green dome and colonnades and pediments radiating out in each direction. Pay a visit to each of the twelve apostles, erected in larger than life zinc statues along the roof by Engel's successor, Ernst Lohrmann.