Pori is a medium-sized city located on the western coast of Finland, at the mouth of the Kokemäenjoki River into the Gulf of Bothnia. Architecturally, it is not particularly distinctive, but it is known far beyond Finland for the international Pori Jazz Festival, held here every July – it is one of the major jazz festivals in Europe. The city was founded by John III of Sweden in 1558. Today, it is a seaport and an industrial center.
From a historical perspective, the most important landmark of the city is the theater building. During the period of Russification, it served as the temporary home of the Finnish Theatre. The building was completed in 1884. The auditorium can hold 300 spectators. The interior is richly decorated with frescoes, and the carved chandeliers are also noteworthy.
The Satakunta Museum is dedicated to the history of the city and region. Its permanent exhibitions include archaeological finds, archival photographs and documents, as well as reconstructed interiors of houses and apartments from past centuries. The museum was established in 1888 and is one of the oldest historical museums in Finland.
The Pori Art Museum is a museum of contemporary and modern art, housed in a former weigh house from 1860.
The Rosenlew Museum presents the industrial heritage of the multi-industrial Rosenlew company, based in Pori.
The large Käppärä Cemetery is known for the Juselius Mausoleum, built in 1901 for the 11-year-old daughter of local businessman Fritz Arthur Jusélius. It is the only mausoleum in Finland and was decorated with frescoes by Akseli Gallen-Kallela.
Most of the old buildings were destroyed during the great city fire of 1852. The beautiful neoclassical Town Hall, built in 1841, is one of the few buildings that survived the fire. Today, it houses the city tourist office and other municipal offices.
The Central Pori Church was built between 1859 and 1863 in the Gothic Revival style. The church, with its tower made of cast iron, is one of the largest in Finland. The building is especially known for its pipe organ, built by Paschen Kiel Orgelbau in 2007.
The Nature Center Ark (Luontotalo Arkki) is an attraction mainly for children. It is a nature museum dedicated to the local environment. The most interesting part of the museum is its large butterfly collection, as well as stuffed animals native to the Satakunta region.
Seventeen kilometers from the city center lies the famous Yyteri Beach – one of the largest beaches on the Baltic Sea, stretching six kilometers. The beach is especially popular among windsurfers. Ten kilometers further on is the island of Reposaari, home to a unique village with a townscape of mostly wooden houses and a population of about 1,000 people.
The railway station is located a few hundred meters from the city center. There are no ticket offices at the station, and access to restrooms is limited. Only trains from Tampere run to Pori. It is much easier to reach the city by bus.
Related articles:
Train travel in Finland – a comprehensive guide
