Turku- A City Demoted

Finland has quite a history, and is impossible to talk about without taking a look at its peculiar position as a meeting point between the historically tumultuous, exotic Russian east and European west. Finns are a mysterious lot because there is not any clear evidence regarding where they have come from. What is clear is that they were Christianized and ruled by both east and west, being ruled and shaped by Sweden from 1154-1809 and Russia from 1809-1917.

While under Swedish rule Sweden’s administrative center for attempting to “civilize” the rough living, forest dwelling, pagan Finns was Turku (Åbo in Swedish). Eventually though, after Russia fought for and won Finland for itself, the capital was moved to Helsinki in order to reduce the Swedish influence and move the capital closer to the Tzar Alexander I and St. Petersburg.

Turku is the oldest and 5th largest city in Finland. I personally am not a huge fan of Turku, as it has a certain kind of coldness in regards to its layout and feel, but it is historically rich and has a number beautiful Churches and nice architecture. I am, of course, impressed by everything older than 50 years old, being a California boy and all, but if I were to create an ordered list of my favorite Finnish cities, Tampere and Helsinki would be having an arm wrestling/karate chop contest with each other and then Turku would be somewhere down on the list awaiting a promotion. Wait on my little friend. I have no love for you in this empty, blackened heart of mine.