Turku ( Åbo in Swedish) is situated at the Aura River, close to the sea in the South east of Finland. It was settled way back in the 13th century and under Swedish rule it became Finland's de facto capital and most important city.

 

In 1808 Sweden had to cede Finland to Russia and Tzar Alexander I moved its capital to Helsinki. But Turku remained an important place because of its strategic location as gateway to the west.

 

The great fire of 1827 destroyed much of the city which was rebuild with the help of famous architect Carl Ludvig Engel, who also designed Helsinki's new city center.

 

Touristic sights in Turku are the Cathedral from the 14th century, the Market Hall from 1867 and  of course Åbo Castle with its roots in the 13th century.