Appointed by Alexander I of Russia， this port city replaced Turku（土爾庫，芬蘭西南部港市）as the seat （所在地）of Finnish government in 1812. Today it is a modern European capital with a parliamentary government that supports the current continental shift toward European unity（歐洲大家庭）and a single Euro-currency（歐洲統(tǒng)一貨幣）。
The ballet， opera， symphony（交響樂）， theater and visual arts all combine to make this political capital a cultural capital as well. In fact， Helsinki has been selected as one of the European culture capitals for the year 2000. Home of the Finnish National Opera and the Finnish National Gallery， the city supports a rich mix of theaters， cultural centers and museums.
Known for its light-colored granite（花崗巖）buildings， wide well-laid-out streets， public parks and maritime（海上的）scenery， the "White City of the North" numbers （計(jì)入，算作）among its architecturally diverse treasures the classic Helsinki cathedral （大教堂）and the modern Finlandia Hall.
The ballet， opera， symphony（交響樂）， theater and visual arts all combine to make this political capital a cultural capital as well. In fact， Helsinki has been selected as one of the European culture capitals for the year 2000. Home of the Finnish National Opera and the Finnish National Gallery， the city supports a rich mix of theaters， cultural centers and museums.
Known for its light-colored granite（花崗巖）buildings， wide well-laid-out streets， public parks and maritime（海上的）scenery， the "White City of the North" numbers （計(jì)入，算作）among its architecturally diverse treasures the classic Helsinki cathedral （大教堂）and the modern Finlandia Hall.