Rettig Palace, Historic museum in Turku, Finland.
Rettig Palace houses two distinct museum sections: Aboa Vetus featuring medieval archaeological exhibits and Ars Nova showcasing contemporary art collections. The building preserves medieval ruins beneath its 1928 structure, with streets and house remains from the 14th and 15th centuries still visible in the cellars.
The building was constructed in 1928, but excavations in the 1990s revealed medieval structures and artifacts beneath its foundation. This discovery sparked the creation of an archaeological museum that brought the city's hidden past to the public.
The museum blends archaeology research with public engagement, inviting visitors to interact with working archaeologists during active excavation projects in the cellars.
The museum sits in central Turku along the river and is easily walkable from downtown. Plan to explore both exhibition spaces, as moving between the medieval cellars and contemporary galleries takes time to absorb each section fully.
A medieval street called Convent Riverfront runs through the museum cellars and remains visible today. This preserved street layout offers a rare glimpse into how medieval Turku was organized and used.
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