Marsalkka Mannerheimin ratsastajapatsas

Nice square market.Full of life. Right in the heart of the city.

This is the square one cannot miss out. Coming from any direction, you have to stop and appreciate the man on the horse.

Hieno pysti. Manner-etuliite lämmittää mieltä.

Odottelin tilausbussin tuloa varhain aamulla. Olin Kiasman bussi pysäkillä.

Oikein näyttävä patsas! Hieno valaistus

Tällä kertaa katutöiden saartama, harvinaisuudessaan Suomessa toki aina ihastuttava.

Classic general on a horse statue in the center in f the city. Worth reading up on the history of the man and learn a bit about Finland along the way.

Hieno aukio, paljolla tekemisellä

The square is known for the bronze statue of Mannerheim. Baron Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim (1867–1951) was a political and military leader, explorer, general in the Russian Imperial Army, and President of Finland from 1944–46.He played an undeniably large role in Finland’s military conflicts in the first half of the 20th century. Mannerheim even topped a nationwide poll of 100 Greatest Finns in 2004.

Father of modern Finland, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim was a Finnish military leader and statesman:- military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War of 1918,- Regent of Finland (1918–1919),- commander-in-chief of Finland's defence forces during World War II (1939–1945),- Marshal of Finland (1942–),- 6th president of Finland (1944–1946).The only Finn to have held the rank of field marshal, an honorary rank bestowed upon especially distinguished generals.Mannerheim's mother tongue was Swedish. He spoke fluent German, French, and Russian. He spoke some English, Polish, Portuguese, Latin, and Chinese. He didn't start learning Finnish properly until after Finland's independence.Mannerheim met the 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet. He showed the Dalai Lama how to use a pistol.On Mannerheim's 75th birthday, Hitler paid a surprise visit as he wished to visit the brave Finns and their leader. Also, the only known recording of Hitler speaking outside of a formal occasion was recorded that day.Legend has it that while conversing with Hitler, Mannerheim lit a cigar. He expected Hitler to ask Finland for more help against the Soviet Union, which he was unwilling to give. When he lit up, all in attendance gasped, for Hitler's aversion to smoking was well known. Nevertheless, Hitler continued the conversation calmly, with no comment. By this test, Mannerheim could judge if Hitler was speaking from a position of strength or weakness. He refused Hitler, knowing that Hitler was in a weak position, and could not dictate to him.Mannerheim wasn't prosecuted for crimes against peace as Stalin respected and admired him.It was difficult for Churchill to declare war on Finland at Stalin's demand due to his previous uncomplicated co-operation with Mannerheim, which led them both to exchange polite and apologetic correspondence about the prevailing circumstance, yet with deep respect for each other.Participants in a Finnish survey taken 53 years after his death voted Mannerheim the greatest Finn of all time.In a nutshell...Mannerheim was ballsy.4 stars, would give 5 if there's info/details of Mannerheim. Or maybe I didn't see it?