Turku, Port city in Southwest Finland
Turku sits at the mouth of the Aura River and operates Finland's largest winter port, enabling shipping across the entire Baltic Sea region. The river divides the city centre into two halves, linking the historic core with the archipelago along the coast.
This city served as Finland's capital throughout Swedish and Russian rule until 1812, when administrative functions moved to Helsinki. A large fire in 1827 destroyed much of the old town and prompted a rebuilding effort with fire-resistant structures.
The annual Christmas Peace declaration ceremony draws hundreds of listeners each year to hear the proclamation from Brinkkala Mansion, a tradition carried forward for roughly seven centuries. Many locals gather near the town hall to witness the ceremony before strolling through the lit streets of the city centre afterward.
Regular ferry connections carry travelers from here to Stockholm and Mariehamn, with more than three million passengers passing through the port facilities each year. The city is easy to explore on foot, especially along the riverside paths beside the Aura where most museums and landmarks stand.
Architect Carl Ludwig Engel shaped a new cityscape following the devastating fire of 1827, designing uniform buildings meant to be more fire-resistant. Today these structures with their light facades and straight street layouts define how the city centre appears.
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