Lordi's Square is the central public square of Rovaniemi and the natural gathering point for the city. Named after the local heavy metal band that won Eurovision in 2006, it is lined with shops and cafes and sees constant pedestrian traffic throughout the year. In winter it is transformed by snow and often hosts outdoor Christmas markets, ice sculptures, and the warm glow of fairy lights that characterises Finnish town centres during the polar night.
The square is part of the Aalto Centre — the civic core of Rovaniemi designed by Alvar Aalto after the wartime destruction. Standing here and looking around, you can see how Aalto's modernist plan has shaped the city: the civic buildings are functional and well-proportioned, the street layout is orderly, and the overall effect is of a planned city that has nevertheless developed genuine character over seven decades. The square is the best place to orientate yourself in Rovaniemi and feel the rhythm of daily life in a Finnish Lapland city.