Over a century ago, Finland established its Parliament 11 years before gaining independence from the former Russian Empire on Dec 6, 1917.

Perched on a hill along Helsinki’s main boulevard, Mannerheimintie, Parliament House cuts a restrained yet imposing figure in the heart of the Finnish capital.

Completed in 1931 and designed by architect Johan Sigfrid Sirén, the granite-clad building is framed by 14 towering Corinthian columns and broad stone steps leading to its...