21 July - 1 August 2010
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Wednesday 21 July - fly Ryanair from London Stansted to Stockholm and check into hotel for our first night.
Thursday 22 July and Friday 23 July - explore Stockholm contemporary architecture including Rafael Moneo’s Museum, and cutting edge new quarter - Hammarby Sjöstad - before catching the overnight ferry.
Saturday 24 July - arrive in Helsinki, one of the world’s most beautiful ports. We check into our hotel which will be our base for the next three days are spent visiting mostly Aalto sites including his Institute of Technology campus, his own house and studio, and the Finlandia Concert Hall. We will also visit other outstanding buildings including Eliel Saarinen’s train station [1904-19], Helsinki Olympic Stadium [1938], the Temppeliaukio Church hewn into solid rock and designed by Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen in 1961, Steven Holl’s Kiasma museum, and next door the Sanomatalo by Sarlotta Narjus. A visit to Suomenlinna island is a must - and perhaps dinner in Aalto’s Savoy restaurant.
Tuesday 27 July - mini-bus to Paimio sanatorium, Villa Mairea, Seinakjoki[several buildings] where we stay the night .
Wednesday 28 July - we take a bus to Jyvaskyla and check into the hotel. We then visit nearby Saynatsalo [town hall], and Muuratslo [Aalto's summer house].
Thursday 29 July - in the morning we visit the university and in the afternoon take a bus to Imatra [church] and then on to Lappeenranta where we check into hotel.
Friday 30 July - we cruise down beautiful Saimaa canal [5 hours] to Vyborg [now in Russia - no visa required] where we stay the night. (More details about cruise)
Saturday 31 July visit Aalto’s library, now fully restored. In the afternoon return to Lappeenranta [22:00] where we stay the night.
Sunday 1 August - in the morning we take the train to Helsinki [2-3 hours] before we have time to relax before our flight home.
For those wishing to continue by rail or bus to St Petersburg for a few days please allow for the following:
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Visa £120 [acquired in London]
Hotel about £60 per night sharing
Return flight to London £250 - an alternative way back to London is to take a train to Helsinki £90 [5 hours], flights via easyjet £variable.
There is very little modern architecture in St Petersburg and in my opinion its classical legacy is best appreciated by a dedicated visit of 4/5 days.
Travel Arrangements
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Depart: Wednesday 21 July - fly Ryanair from London Stansted; depart 13:30 to Stockholm, arriving 16:40.
Return: Sunday 1 August - fly Easyjet; depart 21:45 arriving Gatwick 22:45
Cost including all flights, ferries, trains, buses and mini-buses between centres: £1030 each (based on two sharing) - including single supplement: £1360
Deposit: £100
Important information - please read
These tours are the result of requests by an informal friendly group of architectural enthusiasts. Tim Bruce-Dick is the co-ordinator of this group which you are welcome to join. Tim books travel and accomodation upon request; all responsibility for all aspects of insurance rest entirely with individual participants who should ensure they have adequate insurance for the tour they choose to join. Hotels are usually centrally located modern three star hotels. The cost of airport transfers/local transport/food/drink are all extra unless specifically mentioned.
In these unpredictable times these programmes are subject to variation both in cost and content. The prices shown are accurate now and Tim will do his best to keep costs down; any notable variations will be discussed with the group before final amendments are made.
