Vantaa

Vantaa is a city in southern Finland, not far from the Finnish gulf, bordered with Helsinki.
Vantaa, with its population of 192 000 is the fourth largest city in Finland.
Area: 242.66 km², density - 801 inh./km².

The number of Swedish speaking people is decreasing, and nowadays only 3 % of the local inhabitants speak Swedish.

75 % of the population of Vantaa belong to the Lutheran Church, 1.5 % belong to the Orthodox Church. There is an Orthodox Church in the Tikkurila district of the city.

Vantaa received its town charter in 1974; its history has always been connected with the history of Helsinki. It is said, that Vantaa was founded in 1351.

There is an international airport in the centre of Vantaa, which was built for the Olympics in Helsinki 1950. Because of this, Vantaa became a popular city abroad.

Footprints have been found of people who lived in the territory of Vantaa 7000 years ago.
In the beginning, people lived there from spring to autumn. People obtained food by fishing and sealing. Archaeologists have found lots of corroborations that people lived on the territory. The rapids of the Vantaa River were known as Helsingfors, its Swedish name, where the settlement lived.

In 12th - 13th centuries people arrived from central Sweden to Vantaa. The proximity to river and river Kerava attracted them.Permanent settlement was established here from 14th century. The Greystone Church was built by 1460 at the latest and is one of the oldest buildings in the Helsinki region.

Vantaa was developing at the same time with Helsinki, and belonged to the Helsinki region.
During World War II the city developed more rapidly, because many evacuees came here from Karelia. By 1950 they started building Storage buildings. The population of the city started to grow. The building of residential homes lasted until 1974. Vantaa was promoted to a market town.

Approximately 1/3 of the inhabitants of Vantaa were born in Helsinki.

Vantaa is divided into five regions: Myyrmäki, Martinlaakso, Tikkurila, Korso-Koivukylä and Hakunila. There are five swimming pools, four gyms, six tennis courts, sixty nine rinks and two golf fields.

There are well developed transport services between Vantaa and other cities in Finland. There are highways, five railway stations in the city, and also streetcars.

Every year in August, there is a musical rock festival. During the weekends, around 40 000 people visit it.
The Martinus Concert Hall, which was built in 1987, is used for cultural events.

Myyrmäkitalo - a multipurpose centre, among the services located at Myyrmäki House
are the Myyrmäki District Library, the Vantaa Art Museum, a cinema (with a hall for 188 people), the Vantaa Art School and other activities.

The biggest summer cultural event in Vantaa is the Barokko festival (music of 16th - 17th centuries). It is hosted in many areas: in church, in the Martinus Concert Hall, etc.
The Vantaa City Museum is housed in the Old Station Building in Tikkurila, which has an exposition about the history and the life of the city.

Sights:

1.The Finnish Science Centre. There are scientific presentations, these events are generally free of charge and they allow visitors to further their knowledge of the exhibition themes.
2. Baskakov´s estate (was built by 16th century)
3. Central garden
4. St Laura´s Church (1460).
5. Shopping centres: Jumbo and Myyrmani
6. Keningsgetta´s estate (1511)
7. Myyrmäki Church (1984)
8. Kapella
9. Air Museum of Finland
10.Vantaa City Museum
11.Vantaa Airport (1952)
12.Vantaa Art Museum
13.The rapids of the Vantaa River
14.Carting Centre