The National Museum of Finland
Going to the National Museum of Finland was easy. Besides the fact that it was walking distance from our hotel. It was very close to the the major city landmarks like the National Parliament, the Finnish Music Hall, and the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. I say this was the best among all the museums we visited in Helsinki. The Seurasaari was my second favorite.
This bear monument stood right in front of the main entrance to the museum.
A bullet hole preserved at the National Museum ofd Finland
The painted ceilings of the museum were a sight to behold. They are the first to be seen as visitors pass through the entrance halls. They are huge, eye catching and hard to miss. The were very colorful and each vault depicted scenes about Finnish history and culture.
This mural was entitled "Catching the Great Pike" by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1928
"Forging the Sampo" also by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1928
"Stealing the Sampo" by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, 1928
The painted ceiling inside the National Museum of Finland
The first gallery we visited had tons of religious artifacts. It felt like being in Spain once again given the presence of religious statues and oil paintings. They left a very good impression though. The exhibits were all well laid out and numerous. Enjoy the pictures that follow.
Religious statyes on display inside the National Museum of Finland
This hanging ship rfeminded me so much of the ship also suspended from the ceiling inside the Karuna Church in Seurasaari Open Air Museum we visited early in the morning.
This painting of Jesus and the Last Supper caught my attention. There sure were twelve aapostles but the twelfth one was a child. I wonder who could it have been of the 12?
In front of a life size glass case full of armors
The basement of the museum had a collecion of money from yesteryears to the present. There were coins galore to as far away as China and Japan.
There likewise lots of medals.
Stained glass windows in between floors by the staircases
Another gallery displayed the costumes worn by the local folk in different Finnish towns and villages centuries ago.
Clocks galore
What are you looking at? Huh?
The gallery with artifacts from castles and palaces was by far my favorite. It brought me to the times of kings, queens, princes, and princesses and all else royal.
The Throne Room
This room was small but a spectacular display no less.
The throne up close
A side view of the Finland National Museum Building
A rear view of the Finland National Museum
Another rear view of the Finland National Museum
Just like in the City Museum of Helsinki, there were some postcards priced cheaply as they were in the push list for replacement or simply discontinuation of printing. I most definitely took advantage and bought a bunch. In the land of 1 euro postcards, 10 for a 1 euro was a bargain.