Went to Turku on the 28th/29th December 2006 after Tampere, and managed to visit another fellow blogger, Kean Jin. I have blogged about the meeting here.
First things first, here's some info about Turku, from Wikipedia:
Turku (IPA: [ˈturku], Swedish: Åbo (help·info)), founded in the 13th century, is the oldest and fifth largest city in Finland, with a population of 174,868 (as of 2005). Located (60.4515° N 22.2669° E) at the mouth of the Aurajoki in the southwest of the country, it is the capital city of both the region of Finland Proper and the province of Western Finland, as well as being the centre of the country's third largest urban area, with around 270,000 inhabitants. Turku has one of the largest Finland-Swedish populations in the country. The Finnish word for the inhabitants of Turku is turkulaiset (singular: turkulainen). Due to its location, the Port of Turku is one of the busiest seaports in Finland.
Turku has a cultural identity as Finland's historical centre, as it was the largest city in the country. It was also the capital from 1809 to 1812 when Helsinki was made the capital. It will the European City of Culture for Year 2011.
The guidebook published by the Turku TouRing (the website of the tourist organisation Turku) generally has a very good guide for sightseeing on foot; the promenade along River Aurojoki starting from the Cathedral and ends at the Turku Castle. So I will just C&P from the guidebook here.
The walking tour starts from the Cathedral...
Head across Uudenmaankaty to the Old Great Square, where people gather to hear the Christmas Peace declaration.
Above the hill, stands the handsome Vartiovuorenmaki Observatory...
Proceeding towards the river and at the first corner, you will find a wall plaque that depicts the year 1800, which brings us to the Aboa Vetus and Ars Nova museums.
And here's a video:
As you go on, you will reach the Aurasilta Bridge and nearby, you can see the statue of Paavo Nurmi, Turku's legendary athlete.
Now, if you cross to the other side of the river, as you walk along the bridge, you'll see the handsome Turku Art Museum further up the hill.
The route continues along Lantinen Rantakatu. You first arrive at the Pharmacy Museum, which operates in the Quensel House dating back to the year 1700.
At Rantakatu 17 is a handsome granite edifice, which today houses facilities of the city.
You will certainly notice on the opposite side of the riveer, a cutting in the rock covered by a giant spider web, Outi Sarjakoski's "Network".
For more art, enter through the gate of Turku Student's Theatre.
Soon after this you arrive at Teatterisilta Bridge. Overlooking the river, on the opposite side is the Turku City Theatre, and behind it, a goverment office building.
Up on the hill is a windmill,
which forms a spectacular backdrop for the adjoining Samppalinnan Summer Theatre:
Astern m/s Esposito is the pride of Turku-the river ferry Föri, which carried pedestrians and cyclists across the river-for free!
Downriver from the Fori lies the Turku Guest Marina. The huge whale's tail rising from the river is Achim Kuhn's sculpture "Harmony".
Next, you arrive at Varvintori Square. Along the square, in the refurbished rope factory, are facilities of Turku Conservatory and Arts Academy.
The only remaining wooden three-masted barque in the world, the Sigyn, is moored in front of the square.
Now you're approaching the harbour. You see containers, cranes and often also big ships along the opposite bank. Soon you catch a glimpse of your destination, Turku Castle. Before you arrive the Turku Castle, there are a few sights worth visiting: the old sailing ship Suomen Joutsen...
...the minelayer Keihassalmi...
...and the Forum Marimum maritime centre...
And here's a video of what you would expect inside Forum Marinum:
After these you are already in the grounds of Turku Castle.
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