Turku Things to Do

This is "Luostarinmäki", a group of very old wooden houses (built over 200 years ago) where a handicrafts museum is now located... You can see how they made bread, shoes, books and other stuff the old way... very interesting!

Another interesting thing about this place is that it is located on a hill that used to be in the outskirts of the town (now it's very close to downtown, not because the hill moved obviously but because Turku spread itself!! LOL), and therefore survived the big fire that destroyed a good part of Turku in the XIX century. This is why these old houses could be saved and are now preserved to show how people used to live a couple of centuries ago in Turku!

This was an excellent experience. There was a great deal to see - museum staff in costume and working in real jobs. School room, shop, printers and a tobacco seller.

It was well worth the visit and highly recommended. The uniquness of the museum has eraned it an international reputation and has been awarded a GOLDEN APPLE Prize.

In front of Turku's Main Cathedral, there is a nice cobblestone walk way that leads to a bridge the crosses the river to the Center of town where there's an outdoor market in less cold times of the year, and the indoor market hall; even Turku's City Newspaper.

I like this picture because if you are there at any 15 minute interval, you'll be able to appreciate the reliable churchtower's clock's routine chiming.

Just by listening to the chime, you can tell what time it is. Every 15 minutes past the hour, it chimes 1 time; every 30 minutes 2 times; every 45 minutes 3 times. Then it chimes a certain amount of times depending on the hour. So at noon, it chimes 12 times!

It's kind of fun to realize that you can tell what time it is by the chimes of a church that is over 600 years old!!!

Here is a picture of Turku Castle from a distance. If you like peace, calm and tranquility, Turku is a very good city to go to. It's a great city to walk around and listen to your thoughts in tune with nature.

The first portions of the castle were built around 1280 AD and at that time, the castle was surrounded by water, as if on a lake.

This is one of the walkways inside Turku Castle. Turku Castle is the most important must see in this peaceful city. I spent an hour there appreciating the artifacts and enjoying the castle's structure.

The castle has guided tours which you can inquire about via email:

opastilaukset.linna@turku.fi

You will find great foods to purchase from meat, fish, and poultry, to coffee, grains, herbs, and desserts such as this mouthwatering fruit cake.

The Fish Market Hall is open from around 8:30am until 5:30pm on weekdays; to 3pm on Saturdays.

Sibelius is Finland's most famous Musician. He was a late romantic at around the time Mahler was popular in Austria. Sibelius wrote 7 symphonies, one well known violin concerto, and other music thematic to his nationalistic Finnish pride.

The entrance looks dull, but inside there is a great exhibition of about 150 different kinds of instruments, letters and compositions written by Sibelius, and other memorabilia. There is also a stage where on Wednesdays at around 3pm (I think), there are concerts in the Spring and Autumn.

In Turku's Main Cathedral (the main picture on my Turku Introduction page), I enjoyed the stained glass very much.

This cathedral was completed in 1300 and quite peaceful and serene to walk. As you walk out, you'll see a long walkway in front of the river where there is a bridge that leads to the center of Turku. Usually, many students congregate by day and by night, there are usually a group of loud drunk kids up to no good who think they are the funniest people on the planet.

In general, I appreciate the serene luminosity of stained glass windows in cathedrals.