Arto Melleri, a Finnish poet and winner of Finland’s most prestigious literary award, the Finlandia Prize, was born in Itäkylä in Lappajärvi and his final resting place is located in Lappajärvi Cemetery. The eastern shore of Lappajärvi was the landscape that resonated most with Melleri. This route to Itäkylä introduces you to the countryside surrounding Alajärvi and the areas where Melleri spent his childhood and youth. Along the route, you can also see the legendary island Halkosaari, which hosted the first ever Tulivuorirock Festival in 1967. The name of the event, “volcano rock festival”, comes from the then prevalent theory according to which Lappajärvi was created by volcanic activity.
