Turku
Turku (Swedish: Åbo) is a city in Southwest Finland. It is the fifth-largest city in Finland, with a population of around 190,000.
|
Turku – Åbo | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Turun kaupunki Åbo stad City of Turku | |
 | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 | |
| Country | Finland |
| Area (2009) | |
| • Total | 306.41 km2 (118.31 sq mi) |
| • Land | 245.63 km2 (94.84 sq mi) |
| • Water | 60.78 km2 (23.47 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 282nd largest in Finland |
| Population (2013)[1] | |
| • Total | 181,569 |
| • Rank | 5th largest in Finland |
| • Density | 739.2/km2 (1,915/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 20000–20960 |
| Website | www.turku.fi |
It is next to the municipalities of Aura, Kaarina, Lieto, Masku, Mynämäki, Naantali, Nousiainen, Pöytyä, Raisio and Rusko.
The official languages spoken in Turku are Finnish and Swedish.
The harbour of Turku is an important port. Many ships go from there to Mariehamn and to Stockholm. Turku Airport is also one of Finland's busiest airports.
Turku is located near the mouth of Aura river, and is spread on either side of the river. There are ten bridges over the Aura river in Turku.
History
Turku is the oldest city in the country. it was founded in 13th century, when Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. It used to be the largest city and capital of Finland. From 1809 Russia ruled Finland, and in 1812 the government moved to Helsinki.[2] A big fire destroyed much of Turku in 1827. After that, even the university moved to Helsinki.[3]
The first school in Finland was established in Turku, the old Cathedral school in 13th century. The first university in Finland, "The Royal Academy of Turku" was established in the city in 1640, but it has moved to Helsinki and become the University of Helsinki. Now there are five universities in Turku: three in Finnish language and two in Swedish language.[3]
Museums and other sights
The medieval Turku Castle as seen from the harbour side.
Turku Museum of Art is a classical example of Romantic nationalism in architecture.
Pharmacy museum.
The Court of Appeal.
Luostarinmäki handicraft museum.
Western side of Aura River in central Turku.
Turku Orthodox Church stands next to the main Market Square.
Brinkhall Manor in Kakskerta island.
Old Mill in Samppalinna.
Turku Media
Turku Cathedral, 1814, prior to the Great Fire in 1827
Inauguration of the Academy of Turku in 1640, by Albert Edelfelt from 1902
Great Fire of Turku, a painting by R. W. Ekman
A daguerreotype photograph of the Nobel House, the first photograph taken in Finland, from 1842
Aurakatu area in the 1910s
The Market Square in 1965
Aura River seen further away from central Turku
IV District, or Martti, is one of the smallest but most densely populated districts of Turku.
Area of Turku cathedral in autumn
People celebrating Vappu in central Turku
References
- ↑ "Väestötietojärjestelmä Rekisteritilanne 31.8.2013" (in Finnish and Swedish). Population Register Center of Finland. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ Destination:Turku Flu SAS
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Turku[dead link] University of Applied Sciences
Other websites
Media related to Turku at Wikimedia Commons
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