Turku

If you want to feel the presence of history and see the wonders of ancient culture then you should by no means visit Turku.

Turku, the oldest and fifth largest city in Finland, was founded in the XIII century. The official date of its founding is 1229. Until the year 1812, Turku was the capital of Finland, however later by the decision of the Russian Empire the capital was moved to Helsinki, thus being closer to Russia.  Turku is situated at the mouth of the river Aura and it is an administrative center of Western Finland, as well as one of the largest ports in the country.

Turku has an important religious role; it is the residence of the Archbishop of the state Evangelical Lutheran Church.

In Turku the main church of Finland, the national shrine of the country – the Cathedral is situated. The cathedral is considered as being one of the most valuable monuments of the country. This is a significant medieval ecclesiastical building in Finland, as well as the oldest building in Turku.Vanha Suurtori , an old Great Square, is  the heart of Turku. Here Christmas celebrations of  all Finland begin, that is why Turku is also the official Christmas city of Finland. The area is comprised of four buildings – the Old Town Hall, Brinkkala, Heltina and Yusleniusa,  all of these buildings are under state protection as monuments of architecture of XIX century representing different styles.

The medieval castle of Turku located at the mouth of the river Aura is the most popular tourist attraction.
The Museum of Fine Arts displays Finnish art from the early 19 th century to the present day.

You can also visit Maritime Museum, Biological Museum, etc.
Today Turku is a modern university town, there are many restaurants and rich night life and many opportunities for a perfect rest from morning till night. A variety of shops, cafes, restaurants, supermarkets make Turku very attractive for tourists who come here from all sides of the world.

Photo credit to  Fi20100