“Granite, Gold & Secrets: Helsinki’s Most Overlooked Masterpiece in Central Helsinki”
Description
In this episode of Helsinki Calling, listeners are invited to step inside the Nordea Bank Museum and experience one of Helsinki’s most beautiful and least-expected interiors. Behind the granite walls of Aleksanterinkatu 36B unfolds a grand banking hall designed in 1898 by Gustaf Nyström—soaring columns, a luminous glass ceiling, and architectural precision that still conveys confidence and calm more than a century later.
Beyond the architecture lies a masterful and intimate collection of paintings that transforms the space from historic monument to cultural sanctuary. Highlights include works by leading Finnish artists, most notably Helene Schjerfbeck’s My Mother—a deeply human portrait that feels almost secretive in this former seat of financial power. The contrast between economic history and artistic sensitivity is what makes this visit unforgettable.
This episode explains why stepping inside matters—and why lingering does too.
👉 To deepen the experience, book a guided tour via the link in the episode description. opastusvaraukset @ fi.issworld.com













