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| West Coast Cities |
Kokkola Karleby - Airport City
Founded in 1620 by the Swedish King Gustaf II Adolf, Kokkola or Karleby is a charming historical town. There are several museums and beautiful churches well worth visiting such as: the Historical Museum of Kokkola, the Kaarlela Museum of Local History, Kokkola Church and Kaarlela Church. At the Peasants' Museum and the Animal Park, which operates right by the museum, there are about 7500 museum pieces waiting to be explored. The Animal Park houses 25 different species of animals. The 7 Bridges Archipelago nearby offers pristine nature, bright summer nights and also winter activities on the seashore. Tankar, the lighthouse island outside Kokkola invites you to an unforgettable adventure in the Gulf of Bothnia. This islet has worked as a base for fishermen for centuries. The little church on Tankar was built in 1754 for their use. | Book this City | Oulu - Airport City
Located on the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia, Oulu is the most important city in Northern Finland and the sixth largest city in the country. It is the major university and science city. Several museums are dedicated to science and a visit to the Science Centre Tietomaa is a must. Tietomaa hosts all sorts of scientific things of interest. Various technologies are explained and there are lots of things to learn about and you're allowed to play with everything. Another interesting sight is the Oulu City Hall - a neo-renaissance stone palace, completed in 1887, housing a part of the City's central administrative office. The Oulu Cathedral represents neo-classical style and was originally built in 1777. It houses Finland's oldest painted portrait from 1611. Don't miss Oulu's botanical gardens where you will find the northernmost pyramids in the world. | Book this City | Pori - Airport City
Founded in 1558, nearby the coast of Gulf of Bothnia, Pori is nowadays a modern and important seaport town. It is famous for the sandy beaches of Yyteri and for hosting Pori Jazz, an annual international jazz festival. Natural heritage centre Arkki presents wetlands nature in Satakunta, which is unique in Finland. In about twenty kilometers you will get from the barren islets of the outer archipelago to the wooded islands, meadows and shore groves of the land-rise coast, the reed areas of the river delta, groves along inland rapids, and to spacious bogs. Other tourist attractions include: the Central Pori church - representative of neo-gothic style, the Norwegian style church at Reposaari - built in 1876 and the islet of Kirjuri featuring children's playgrounds of Pelle Hermanni the clown and Kolme Karhua ("The Three Bears"), a pirate ship for kids. | Book this City | Rauma
Founded in 1442, Rauma is a charming historic town. The heart of the town - Old Rauma is the most beautiful and the largest preserved coherent medieval wooden town area in the Nordic region. In 1991 the area was listed on the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites as an example of Nordic wooden town construction. The buildings in the area date mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries and form a myriad of shops, complemented by an idyllic backdrop of wooden houses and lush gardens, a marketplace, and many historically and culturally significant sights. The Church of the Holy Cross, built in the 15th century, featuring mediaeval murals and frescoes is well worth a visit. The town is a heaven also for shoppers and gourmets. Especially during the summer months, the marketplace is a popular meeting place. | Book this City | Salo
Although Salo is known to have been inhabited as early as 7,000 years ago and has long long been a centre of rural commerce it officially became a town in 1960. Its position almost equidistant between Helsinki and Turku, facilitated its economical developpement. It is considered to be the original home town of Nokia phones. The statue of Lauri, the blacksmith standing in the centre of the town represents the first citizen of Salo. Other tourist attractions include: Salo Art Museum Roundhouse - a new Art Museum housed by a century-old building locomotive hall, Meritalo Museum - one of the oldest buildings in Salo center, hosting Uskela Dress (a new regional dress) and Uskela Church - built in 1832 after the plans of C. L. Engel, the most famous architect of his time in Finland. | Book this City | Seinajoki - Airport City
Seinajoki is known as a city of education, hospital and health services, culture, sports, as well as of trade and business activities. Thanks to its Alvar Aalto Centre, Seinajoki is a recognized destination for architectural sites. Great buildings designed by Alvar Aalto such as the City Hall dating from 1962, City Library (1965), Lakeuden Risti church (1960) and Civil Guard House can be admired in Seinajoki. The city is, together with Buenos Aires, one of the world's leading Tango Cities. The Tangomarkkinat Tango Festival, the biggest summer event in Finland, attracts annually more than 100 000 people. In addition to tango, Seinajoki also hosts annually Provinssirock, the biggest rock festival in Finland. | Book this City | Vaasa - Airport City
Dating back from 1606, Vassa nearly burned down completely in 1852 and was built afterwards some kilometers from the original spot. The architect Setterberg who designed the city took the fire into account and hence why the city map shows broad avenues and several city sections. The belfry and town hall ruins can still be visited. Located nearby the sea, it offers some nice harbor views and eleven museums. There is an enormous amusement park, Wasalandia, for those who love the thrill of new adventures. Other interesting sites include: Tikanoja Art Museum housing Finnish and foreign art, temporary exhibits, Edvins Sculpture Park and Dugout Village, Museum of the Old Vaasa, and Wasastjerna merchant house dating from the 1790s. | Book this City |
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