European Royalty
It starts ISLAND Ward – Aland archipelago in the main. Today the Royal Route for the most part hidden asphalt, but something where you can see the ancient stones and milestones with a monogram of Queen Christina of Sweden. On the eastern tip of the island (and the King's Road) are its main historic sights – well-preserved castle Kastelholm Swedish and Russian fortress Bomarsund. Many military fortification built in the first half of XIX century by order of Nicholas I, was destroyed during the Crimean War in 1854, when the Court of England and France almost destroyed the western outpost of the Russian army. Now on the left Bomarsund Only ruins.
History Espoo – second biggest city in Finland – at least paradoxical. So at the end of the XVI century it was he, not Helsinki, could become a successful contender for the title of the capital of Finland – although at the time officially the city was not. Espoo has become so only in early 1972. And this despite the fact that the first settlements appeared on its territory shortly after the last glacial period, about nine thousand years ago! Stone hearths and tools that can be seen in the local museum, show a fairly high level of young people is infinitely old Espoo. Antique Porvoo (founded in 1346) has always been inextricably linked with Royal Mail expensive and famous for its developed – by the standards of XVI-XVIII centuries – infrastructure and communications. Perhaps it is for this reason that Alexander I, after the accession of Finland to Russia is called the Parliament (1809). Then Russian emperor confirmed the privileged position of citizens Duchy of Finland – its own constitution, religion and the rights of estates of the country. In Porvoo preserved the house where the Emperor stayed – in beginning of the XIX century it was the largest and most comfortable building.
One of the most unusual cities in Finland, Hamina, notable for strong device and in terms of an octagonal web. Since the tabs to this day is a city of war. It is believed that its architecture can be traced Russian influence, but, as you know, at the beginning of the XVIII century all Europe was keen on the ideas of building an ideal city. In Hamina the summer of 1783, in a building that is now City Museum is located, were personal – and therefore not included in the official biographies of rulers – the negotiation of Catherine II and the Swedish king Gustav III, devoted to the scheduled last war with Denmark. The meeting lasted three day, desired outcome has not brought the Swedes, but created a lot of stories and legends that can be heard in Hamina today.
San Jose Time