I arrived in Tallinn on Saturday afternoon and met up with my counterpart working in Tallinn. We started off by visiting the Pirita Convent Ruins Park. The Pirita Convent was built starting in 1417. It operated for around 150 years, and was the largest nunnery in Old Livonia. On January 30, 1575, the Russian army destroyed the convent and took the nuns prisoner. Two years later, they returned for more destruction. After that, the ruins were temporarily used as a refuge and as a neighborhood quarry. It wasn't until 400 years later in 1980 that the Ruins Park was opened. In 2001, the new Pirita Convent opened.
We then went to Kadriorg Park and visited Catherine's Palace, the summer home of Catherine the Great. The palace was set up at the order of Peter I and designed by Italian architect Niccolo Michetti in 1718. The Upper Garden is at the back of the palace and has been restored to its original design. (The first picture is the front. The other pictures are the back.)
We then headed to the President's House. And much like the White House in D.C., you can walk right up to the front door if you want!?!?
Tallinn is an old medieval city and the old town is still walled. There is an Upper Old Town and a Lower Old Town. The Upper Old Town is more aristocratic. Here are a few pictures of part of the wall and towers that surround the Lower Old Town.
This is the Holy Ghost Church, an original medieval church that has retained its initial looks from the 14th century. The clock on the wall of the church has been giving the correct time since the 17th century. I didn't go inside, but supposedly this church used to serve as a church for the poor people of Tallinn, and therefore had a "bible for the poor" which is a series of 57 paintings on biblical themes to help the people better understand the Bible and its meaning.
This is St. Nicholas' Church, or Niguliste, which was the main fortified church of the Lower Old Town, who never missed the chance to put the Upper Town aristocracy in their place and this church helped them do it. The imposing properties overlooked the town, and from the tall belfry (built in 1515), you could get a wonderful peek into the courtyards of the Upper Old Town. In the 1944 air-raid, however, the church and the entire block it was on were completely destroyed. The restoration after the war took 30 years, and it was restored as a valuable relic of architectural heritage to house a museum and concert hall. This was approved by Soviet authorities because the official anti-religious principles forbade the restoration of a building of worship as such.
Below is Tallinn Town Hall in the main square. It is the only medieval town hall still preserved in Northern Europe. Tallinn became an independent Hanseatic town in 1248 and became an important commerce center, brokering most of the trade between Russia and the West, and bringing more wealth and power to the town. The Town Hall took on its current appearance in 1402-1404. The Town Hall has been topped with a weather vane since 1530 called Old Thomas, one of the best known symbols of Tallinn. The Town Hall was used for administering the town until 1971. It is currently used for official receptions, festive meetings and concerts.
We then went to the upper old town, or Toompea. The first picture is of some government building. Right across the street is the Orthodox Cathedral. St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the main Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Estonia. It dates from the late 19th century and was built at the order of the Russian Tsar Alexander III. The Cathedral has the mightiest ensemble of bells in Tallinn, the biggest of them weighing over 15 tons.
Below are some views of Lower Old Town from Upper Old Town.
One day while in Tallinn, I took the ferry over to Helsinki, Finland. Here are a few sites from that day:
A statue of Eino Leino on the esplanade. I have no idea what he did or who he was, but here you go.
This obelisk is the oldest monument in Finland. What it's a monument to...I have no idea.
Here are pictures of the Rock Church. A church built entirely in a rock. The ceiling is made completely of copper.
Sibelius Monument....again....I have no idea who Sibelius is!!
The Olympic Stadium built for the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were then canceled because of World War II. It was used, however, for the 1952 Summer Olympics. (Sorry - a bad picture taken from a tour bus)
Statue and fountain of a girl in Market Square. The girl is supposed to be some kind of symbol of Finland. Also, Market Square is where I had reindeer for lunch!
The Main Post Office and Post Museum
Uspenski Cathedral
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
Parliament Building
Senate Square: Lutheran Cathedral with statue of Czar Alexander II
Can you tell which city I bought a guidebook to???
