National Library of Finland

This neoclassical building beside Senate Square was designed by Carl Ludwig Engel and houses one of the most beautiful interiors in the city. The domed main reading room, with its columns and painted vaulted ceilings, has a grand, ceremonial atmosphere, yet many travellers overlook it, overshadowed as it is by the nearby cathedral. The library is part of the University of Helsinki and is open to visitors, provided they respect the quiet of those reading.