Oitbackan kartano, manor house in Kirkkonummi, Finland
Oitbackan kartano is a large estate in Kirkkonummi featuring a main house built in the late 1800s that mimics Italian villa style and was designed by Konstantin Kiseleff. Several white-painted farm buildings including a barn and stable sit clustered on a small hill, while an early 20th-century garden with pathways, flower beds, and a Narcissos sculpture by Ville Vallgren completes the layout.
The site has been known for centuries and was first documented in the 1500s as a tenant farm within a larger estate. The Kiseleff family acquired the property in the 1800s and redesigned it following Italian villa models, with the main house built between the 1860s and 1870s.
The estate was a center of community life where farmers worked the land and local children attended school from the late 1800s onward. The white-painted farm buildings and the thoughtfully designed garden reflect how residents valued both practical work and aesthetic beauty.
The estate is open to visitors at certain times and invites exploration of the buildings and gardens on foot. Wear comfortable shoes since pathways can be uneven, and respect the old structures as well as the private nature of the main buildings.
Architect Konstantin Kiseleff was renowned for designing elegant houses that drew from European styles, and Oitbacka demonstrates this approach vividly through its Italian-inspired architecture. Sculptor Ville Vallgren, a noted Finnish artist, created the Narcissos sculpture that still stands in the garden today, adding an artistic dimension to the property.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.