On the southwestern coast a two-hour drive from Helsinki, Finland's oldest city (founded in the 13th century, now with a population of around 200,000) was also its capital until 1812, when it moved to Helsinki following Russian annexation. It´s still considered the country´s cultural capital (and indeed, was a European Capital of Culture in 2011).
Major landmarks include the magnificent Turku Castle (1280), one of Finland's oldest surviving buildings and the Turku Cathedral (built around the same time), the spiritual center of Finnish Lutheranism. The charming banks of the Aura River are lined with restaurants, museums, and famous floating restaurant-barges.
Today Turku is distinguished by its vibrant university culture (there are two here), a thriving maritime heritage, a bustling restaurant scene, and serving as the main gateway to the stunning Finnish Archipelago.
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