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Turku was founded in 13th century. It is the oldest city in Finland and capital of the historical Finland Proper. The name originates from East Slavic word "tǔrgǔ", which means a "market place". Main medieval buildings include the Cathedral of Turku (1300), Dominican monastery (1249) and the Castle (main image), which dates back to 1280s. In the 16th century Duke Johan and Katarina Jagellonica ruled from there and got its famous Renaissance Floor built. The first school in Finland was the Cathedral School operated from the Cathedral of Turku. In the Middle Ages the city was also the spiritual center of Finland, with the Archbishop of Turku residing there.

The city is located at the mouth of river Aura, and was built on both sides of the river, therefore people living on the eastern side are from "täl pual jokke" (this side of the river) and people living on the western side are from "tois pual jokke" (other side of the river). The river is crossed by nine bridges, first one of which was Pennisilta (Penny Bridge), built in 1414.

Sources:
Turku.fi
wikipedia/Turku

Images: Wikimedia Commons

Builder: Ahti Karjalainen