TOUR H-5: VISIT TO SIBELIUS HOME AND AINOLA

Note: This is a totally private tour to the home museum of Jean Sibelius, Finland’s most famous classical composer. The tour is operated exclusively for you, for your own private party or group upon request.
Prices: See the price table below. The price per person depends on the number of people in your party sharing the ride.  For Sundays and National Holidays the tour must be requested separately and the prices will be quoted also separately.
Duration: 3,5  hours
Starting time: You may decide yourself the most convenient starting time for you at the time of booking. Operational restrictions on Sundays and National Holidays.
Transportation: By a private car, van, or motor coach depending on the number of seats required.
Activity level: Relaxed. This is an enjoyable and relaxed tour, and you may control the speed and progress. Suitable for wheelchair passengers. Some uphill climbing required.
Major sites and inside admissions included:  The major highlight on this tour is naturally the visit to the former home of Jean Sibelius. This is one of the dream tour for lovers of classical music, and especially music of Sibelius. Pending on the location of your ship and her port, on the way to Jarvenpaa you shall drive through certain parts of Helsinki, and your guide shall point out the most interesting sites on the way.
ITINERARY:
Why not combine the highlights of Finland’s beautiful capital Helsinki with a visit to the home of Finland’s most famous composer, Jean Sibelius?
At first we shall head for outside of the city to a nearby town of Jarvenpaa, located about 20 miles North from Helsinki. The estate is also known as “Ainola”, as the composer named it after his wife Aino. The drive will take just about 40 minutes.
Sibelius (1865-1957)  was once skiing with his brother-in-law, the painter Eero Järnefelt, when he fell in love with the enchanting area around the Lake Tuusula. His good friend, architect Lars Sonck was given the assignment of designing a rustic family home, for Jean, his wife and three daughters. The house had to be fitting into the surrounding forest and harmonizing with the nature.  Work on the home began in spring 1904 using huge  logs from the middle part of Finland.  And already in September of the same year the artistic family moved into their new house even though the top floor was not totally completed until 1911. Sibelius lived in this house for more than 50 years until his death, and after that his wife still continued to live there. For this extremely long period of occupancy the interior, and the furniture of the home date back to various decades and different periods of style and design. The oldest being heirlooms from both sides of the couple, and the newest dating from the 1930’s and 1950’s.  This museum home has been preserved as it was during the family’s lifetime and we shall see the original furnishings, and their personal effects during our stay, among them the grand piano of the master.
Sibelius composed many of his world famous pieces in this house. The production of the Finnish National Composer comprises several of the most fascinating treasures of classical music, and pieces known to everybody around the world, e.g. “Valse Triste” and “Finlandia”. The Sibelius’ Violin Concerto is the most recorded violin concerto of the entire 20th century
After our tour of Ainola, we’ll board again our vehicle and return to Helsinki along the Lakeside Road of the Tuusula Lake. This ride will also give us an opportunity to see and experience briefly the typical Finnish countryside, although so close to the capital city.
Depending on the final docking location of your cruise ship, the drive through Helsinki could have several different routings. However, while driving inside the Helsinki city limits your guide shall provide commentary of all the major sites you will be passing by.

Return to your ship. - End of the tour.

Prices in USA Dollars per person, based on the number of people in your party:

Helsinki H-5
Number of persons in your private party	2	3-4	5-6	7-9	10-12	13-18	19-24	25-36	37+
Price per Person In USD $	$395	$295	$195	$160	$115	$95	$75	$55	$49

Note: Sunday departures subject to availability ad special pricing.