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Introduction Turku City, Finland 

Turku, the capital of Pori Province (now West Finland), also known as Orb, is the second largest port in Finland and an important industrial base. Located on the southwestern coast of the border, on the Gulf of Bothnia, 170 kilometers east of the capital Helsinki, it is the old capital of Finland (it was the capital of Finland until 1812). The urban area covers an area of ​​24 square kilometers, with a population of 180,000; including the suburbs, an area of ​​81 square kilometers, with a population of 240,000.

Now it is the regional center of southwestern Finland, with well-developed industries, and the shipbuilding industry ranks first in the country; oil refining, cement, metal processing, textiles, cigarettes, wood processing and other departments are also more important. The water depth of the harbor channel is about 9 meters, and the nearby sea area is almost ice-free all year round and can be navigated all year round. There are many historic sites. There are cathedrals built in 1290, medieval castles and historical museums, as well as Swedish theaters and Greek Orthodox churches built in the 19th century. A bilingual city with universities that teach in Swedish and Finnish.

History

At the mouth of the Olayjoki River in southwest Finland, on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia. The population is 180,225 (2012-12-31). It is the oldest city in the country. Turku was originally developed from a castle built by the Swedes (called Obo in Sweden), and soon developed into a commercial center. In 1525, King Gusdorf Vasha of Sweden granted Turku the city right. In the mid-16th century Turku became the capital of the Principality of Finland. In 1809, Russia began to rule Finland, and Turku was once the capital. In 1812, the capital was moved from Turku to Helsinki.

Since the 14th century, Turku has been the foreign trade center of Finland. At that time there were only seven small cities in Finland, and Turku was the largest and most important of them. It is the center of religious life in the country and is the seat of the Archbishop, the head of the Finnish Church. A good natural harbor makes it a part of Finland’s foreign trade port. Due to the frequent trade ties with Germany, German merchants occupy an important position in the center of life of the city.

Economy

Turku is an important industrial center in Finland with well-developed shipbuilding, machine building and metal processing, rope making, textiles, wood processing, tobacco and sugar industries. There are the country’s largest cigarette factory and shipyard.

Turku has inherited the fine tradition of the ancient trade center and is still Finland’s second largest trading port. The main imported goods in the port are: coal, coke, petroleum products, cotton, grain and machinery equipment, etc.; the main exports are wood, paper and machinery.

Culture

Turku is an important cultural center after Helsinki. There are Turku University and Turku School of Economics, as well as a huge library and various cultural facilities such as museums and theaters.

The urban area still retains many classical and elegant buildings. The Romanesque cathedral built in 1258 is an architectural model for many churches in Finland. Turku also has many castles from the 13th century, an Orthodox church built in 1846, and funeral parlors with large glass walls.

Ethnic population

Located in the southwestern part of Finland, with a population of 175,000, Turku is the fifth largest city in Finland and the oldest city in Finland.

Founded in 1229, Turku was once a trading hub in the Baltic Sea. Before Finland established its own country and moved its capital to Helsinki, Turku was the capital of Finland. In the 13th century, the construction of Turku Castle and Turku Cathedral, the most important landmarks of Turku, began. In the following three hundred years, the city has maintained an inseparable relationship with Sweden and has become the first good district in the territory of Finland.

In the 17th century, the first institution of higher learning in Finland, the University of Turku, was established here. Turku is also Finland’s gateway to the west, the largest port of call for passenger ships and ferries in Finland, and the commercial, cultural and technological center of Finland. Turku’s 3 universities and technology parks excel in biochemistry, ICT and pharmaceutical research. Turku is also an important industrial city with shipbuilding and other industries. Tourism is the main source of income for Turku, with more than 1 million tourists coming here every year.

There are many places of interest in Turku, the most famous being Turku Castle and Cathedral left over from the Middle Ages. Built in 1280, the castle was the most important military fortress during the period when Sweden ruled Finland. The 14 kings of Sweden used it as their residence, and it is now one of the best-preserved large castles in Northern Europe. Turku Cathedral is a well-known medieval cathedral in Finland. It was built in the early 13th century and is one of the oldest buildings in the area.