One of our favorite excursions from Helsinki is to the Iittala glass factory. We can arrange a private tour of the factory to watch artisans creating the glass vases, tableware and objets d’art that are synonymous with modern Finnish design. This tour is especially recommended for collectors of Oiva Toikka—designed Iittala annual birds, eggs and other works of art. All of the vases designed by master Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, including the iconic Savoy vase, are made in the main factory.

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Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is home to an intriguing collection of architectural monuments ranging from vernacular wooden structures and stone fortresses to neo-Classical edifices and even a church hewn from rock. But for fans of modern architecture–and those curious about one of Finland’s most creative minds–a trip to Helsinki would be incomplete without touring […]

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