📖 About Turku

Turku is Finland's oldest city, officially founded in 1229 when Pope Gregory IX issued his Bulla, and served as the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland until 1812. As Finland's most populous city until the late 1840s, Turku holds a unique place in Finnish history as the cradle of Finnish culture, religion, and education. Today, with a population of 207,000 in the city and 317,000 in the metropolitan area, Turku remains a vital regional capital and one of Finland's most important business and cultural centers, as well as a major port city connecting Finland to Sweden and the wider Baltic region.

The city has earned its reputation as the "Food Capital of Finland," offering exceptional Nordic cuisine that celebrates local ingredients and innovative culinary traditions. Turku serves as the gateway to the world's largest archipelago—the Archipelago Sea, featuring over 40,000 islands and skerries stretching westward into the Baltic. This unique natural wonder, with the Archipelago National Park located just 60 km from the city, provides unparalleled opportunities for island-hopping, sailing, kayaking, and experiencing authentic coastal Finnish culture.

Turku's economy is anchored by a diverse mix of manufacturing, maritime industries, and creative sectors. The city generates over 50% of Finland's pharmaceutical industry turnover, making it the undisputed leader in Finnish pharma manufacturing. The Turku Business Region has emerged as one of Finland's most dynamic business and innovation clusters, combining traditional maritime expertise with cutting-edge biotechnology and creative industries. The Port of Turku serves over 3 million passengers annually on routes to Stockholm and Mariehamn, maintaining the city's historic role as Finland's gateway to Scandinavia and Europe.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Turku's economy is characterized by exceptional diversity, combining traditional maritime industries with cutting-edge pharmaceuticals and creative sectors. The city generates over 50% of Finland's pharmaceutical industry turnover, hosting major production facilities and research centers that export globally. The Turku Business Region has developed into one of Finland's most dynamic business and innovation clusters, leveraging the city's historic strengths in maritime technology while embracing biotechnology, medical technology, and digital services as growth engines for the future.

The Port of Turku remains vital to the regional economy, handling over 3 million passengers annually and serving as a critical logistics hub connecting Finland to Sweden and continental Europe. Maritime industries, including shipbuilding expertise at the nearby Meyer Turku shipyard, continue to provide high-skilled employment and drive innovation in sustainable shipping technologies. The manufacturing sector benefits from Turku's strategic coastal location, skilled workforce, and excellent transportation connections, making it an attractive base for companies serving Nordic and European markets.

Culturally, Turku embraces its identity as the "Food Capital of Finland," with a thriving restaurant scene that celebrates New Nordic cuisine and local seasonal ingredients from the archipelago and surrounding farmlands. The city's cultural calendar features year-round festivals, including medieval markets at Turku Castle, contemporary art exhibitions, and music events ranging from classical to cutting-edge contemporary genres. As Finland's oldest city and former capital, Turku preserves its medieval heritage through beautifully maintained historical sites while fostering a progressive cultural scene that attracts artists, students, and creative professionals. The proximity to the Archipelago Sea shapes local culture profoundly, with boating, fishing, and island cottages integral to the Turku lifestyle.

📜 History

Turku's recorded history begins in 1229 with Pope Gregory IX's Bulla, making it Finland's oldest city. However, the settlement's origins stretch back centuries earlier as a trading post and religious center. During the medieval period, Turku served as the ecclesiastical capital of Finland, with Turku Cathedral established as the seat of the Catholic (later Lutheran) diocese. Turku Castle, constructed from 1280 onwards, represented Swedish royal power in Finland and controlled the strategically important Aura River estuary. For centuries, Turku functioned as Finland's political, economic, and cultural capital, the undisputed center of Finnish life.

The city's role changed dramatically in 1812 when Tsar Alexander I moved the capital to Helsinki following Finland's incorporation into the Russian Empire in 1809. This decision aimed to bring the administrative center closer to St. Petersburg and away from Swedish influence. The devastating Great Fire of Turku in 1827 destroyed much of the medieval wooden city, though stone structures like the Castle and Cathedral survived. Despite losing its capital status and suffering the catastrophic fire, Turku reinvented itself as an industrial and commercial center while maintaining its cultural significance. Today, Turku honors its medieval heritage while embracing its modern identity as a maritime hub, pharmaceutical center, and gateway to the spectacular Archipelago Sea, demonstrating remarkable resilience and adaptability across eight centuries of Finnish history.