Mannerheim Square / Paasikivi Square

These two squares face each other across Mannerheimintie. On the west side is Arkadiankatu leading to the Töölö district of town, on the southwest the bus station and Simonkatu, and on the east Postikatu leading to the Railway Station. To the north is the monumental Parliament Building (1931), seat of Finland's 200 Members of Parliament.

Keeping watch over Mannerheim Square is the equestrian statue of C.G.E. Mannerheim (1867-1951), a great national hero, military leader and President. The monument was unveiled by Urho Kekkonen, President of Finland 1956-81, in 1960. Behind it is the Museum of Contemporary Art, Kiasma (1998), a hotly-disputed building designed by the American architect Steven Holl. One of the oldest buildings on the Square is the yellow Main Post Office (1938).

On the western side of Mannerheimintie, opposite Paasikivi Square, is the Lasipalatsi film and media centre.

Paasikivi Square is the area on the corner of Salomonkatu and Arkadiankatu and, not unsurprisingly, it features a memorial (1980) to J.K. Paasikivi (President of Finland 1946-56).