The Three Smiths statue (Kolmen sepän patsas) shows three bare-chested men hammering at an anvil, right where Aleksanterinkatu meets Mannerheimintie in the centre of Helsinki. Unveiled in 1932, it is one of the city's favourite meeting points. Look closely at the anvil: it still has a hole from bomb shrapnel from the air raids on Helsinki in 1944.
The Three Smiths statue at a glance
- Where: Three Smiths Square (Kolmensepänaukio), at the junction of Aleksanterinkatu and Mannerheimintie, in the Kluuvi district.
- Unveiled: 1932, as the Latin inscription on the pedestal records.
- By: the Finnish sculptor Felix Nylund (1878–1940).
- What it is today: a bronze group on a red granite pedestal, owned by the City of Helsinki and one of the busiest meeting spots in the city.
- Time needed: 5 to 10 minutes; longer if you are meeting someone, as most people here are.
From a long-held idea to a city meeting point
Felix Nylund had been working with the theme of smiths for years. He entered a smith design in the 1913 competition for a memorial to the statesman J. V. Snellman, and in 1919 he sketched a version with the smiths standing on top of a ten-metre column; neither was built. The idea finally came to life when the Pro Helsingfors foundation, with money donated by the businessman Julius Tallberg, acquired the statue and gave it to the city. Tallberg's own commercial building still stands at the northern end of the square.
In 1944, during the Continuation War, Soviet bombing raids hit central Helsinki and the statue was damaged; the marks are still visible on the base and in the anvil. That spring it was taken down and buried in a gravel pit in Tikkurila, north of the city, to keep it safe, and in 1945 it was returned to its pedestal, where it has stood ever since.
What to look for
- The anvil: find the hole left by bomb shrapnel in 1944, one of the few visible war scars in central Helsinki.
- The base: the granite pedestal still shows damage from the same raid, along with the Latin inscription ending in MCMXXXII.
- The three figures: muscular, nude smiths striking in turn, a classic 1930s image of work and strength.
- The square itself: in winter the pavement of Aleksanterinkatu around the statue is kept free of snow and ice by underground heating, which is why people still sit here when it is freezing.
Santa hats and other costumes
The Three Smiths are often dressed up. Every year in late November, students from the Limes student organisation put Santa hats on the three figures, and the statue has been used for other public messages too: in spring 2020 the smiths were given face masks. In 2019 it was even boxed in for a while as part of a museum exhibition about wartime Helsinki, recalling the months it spent hidden underground.
Tips for your visit
- Come in daylight to spot the shrapnel hole in the anvil; it is easiest to see from the Aleksanterinkatu side.
- In late November and December, look out for the Santa hats and the Christmas lights on Aleksanterinkatu.
- The square is busy with trams and pedestrians, so watch the tram lines when you step back for a photo.
Nearby
- Stockmann: Helsinki's large historic department store, right next to the square.
- Old Student House: the 1870 home of the University of Helsinki's student union, across Mannerheimintie.
- Esplanadi Park: the city's main promenade, a few minutes' walk south.
- Helsinki Central Station: Eliel Saarinen's granite station with its lantern-carrying stone figures, a few minutes' walk north.
See Helsinki with World City Trail
Our Helsinki scavenger hunt turns the city centre into a game you play on your phone. The route links 11 stops and takes around three hours, with about 53 minutes of walking. It includes places such as the Finnish National Theatre, the Ateneum, Helsinki Cathedral and Market Square.
If you prefer a different format, Helsinki also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
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Facts checked in October 2026.