Spearing the bright blue skies of Tampere, the eponymous cathedral is one of the city's best-known sites, inspiring awe with its granite facade, red roofs, and dramatic spires. Designed by architect Lars Sonck, the church was built in a stately National Romantic style. This church aroused vehement debates when it was built at the beginning of the 20th Century, spurred by the bold paintings of famous Finnish artist Hugo Simberg. The frescoes that were mired in controversy depicted serpentine imagery, nubile figures and morbid skeletons, and denoted sin and corruption. Owing to this, the church gained instant fame in the region. The Tampere Cathedral also features an astonishing altar-piece painted by Finnish artist Magnus Enckell, symbolizing the future revival of people across races.
