Called Sibeliuksen puisto in Finnish, this park was planned to honor Jean Sibelius, Finland’s most famous composer. The grounds are not manicured, but are maintained in a somewhat natural state. Old birch trees shade park benches, and rocky outcrops divide the landscape. The park was meant to reflect the rugged natural beauty of Finland, as inspired by Sibelius’s work Finlandia.
At one side of the park is the monumental sculpture, Eila Hiltunen’s tribute to Sibelius, the genius whose music is believed to embody the soul of Finland. The monument was unveiled in 1967, a decade after the composer’s death; Sibelius is depicted at the peak of his powers and his career.