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Turku

Mayor

Minna Arve

Biography

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The first mentions of Turku can be traced back the 1100s, while archeological findings point to the area of the city being settled all the way back in the Stone Age. Nonetheless, the town of Turku itself was founded in the late 13^th century with the Turku Cathedral being consecrated in the year 1300.

Prior to Helsinki’s rise over the last couple of hundred years, Turku was the largest city in Finland and on numerous occasions served as its capital. Turku was such an important location that originally, when speaking of Finland, people referred primarily to the area around the city.

During the Middle Ages and until the 17^th century, Turku served as the administrative and religious centre of the eastern part of the Swedish Empire (modern-day Finland). After the latter was ceded to Russia in the 1800s, the de-facto regional capital moved to Helsinki. Nonetheless, Turku remained Finland’s largest city for another 20 years and for the following centuries served as the region’s gateway to the west, boasting excellent connections to the rest of Europe, while simultaneously having a good relationship with cities in Russia and formerly the USSR.

Finland / Turku / Mobility

Turku proves its dedication to safe urban traffic

It has taken new measures to ensure the safety of e-scooter users, cyclists and pedestrians

Jun 21, 2021 17:07

Svilena Iotkovska

Finland / Turku / Development / Economy and Finance

Bayer makes 250-million-euro investment in Turku

It will build a modern pharmaceutical plant in the Finnish city

Jun 10, 2021 17:40

Svilena Iotkovska

Finland / Turku / Culture and Tourism / Welfare and Health

Turku seeks to become a clean and safe destination

It has launched a new website to help the public find establishments that comply with health regulations

May 17, 2021 16:59

Svilena Iotkovska

Finland / Turku / Development

Applications are now open for Turku’s Youth Summer Entrepreneur Market

The Finnish city invites creators between the ages of 13-29 to showcase their work

Apr 28, 2021 13:28

Svilena Iotkovska

Finland / Turku / Development / Innovation and Research

Turku charts climate path for its Topinpuisto Circular Economic Center

The goal of the path is to prepare and discover new and sustainable solutions together with local companies

Jan 29, 2021 17:12

Anton Stoyanov

Finland / Turku / Welfare and Health

Turku’s anti-corona bus at the service of ship arrivals

The bus was first tested at the city's port over the weekend

Jan 18, 2021 10:18

Anton Stoyanov

Finland / Turku / Energy efficiency / Green City

In Finland, cities are part of a broad coalition working towards circular economy

As one of the global circular economy leaders, Finland is linking circular economy efforts to its carbon neutrality ambitions and building on learnings from local governments in its new strategic program released today

Jan 13, 2021 16:45

Dana Vigran