Turku is a town of about 180,000 people, with several major Universities and institutions of higher learning. It is the oldest town in Finland, was founded 800 years ago and was the capital of country for the following 600 years, at a time when Finland was a province of Sweden.
Nowadays it is a lively seaside city with modern infrastructure, easy connections to the rest of Europe via air and sea, and all major services. It lies close on the Baltic Sea in South-West Finland, about 160 km from Helsinki, and has a busy harbour watched over by the great Castle of Turku, while the town lies a little up the Aura river.
You can find out lots about Turku from www.turku.fi. The website covers everything from events and leisure, maps and timetables, education, libraries, public services and culture.
Turku is going to be The European Capital of Culture in 2011. Major planning is afoot for this event.
The city's official website is at www.turku.fi
Turku TouRing offers a good guide to visiting Turku and the region: www.turkutouring.fi
Turku's climate at: www.euroweather.net
The weather over the next few days in Turku is at the Finnish Meterological Institute
Maps of Turku at Opaskartta
Turku Archipelago -- one of the world's most beautiful -- at www.saaristo.org