Things to see and do Porvoo

The oldest part dates back to the 11th century, but the cathedral was destroyed several times by the Great Wars and was renovated in the 18th century. Under the ground of the cathedral and in its courtyard many inhabitants were buried until 1789. The church of Porvoo became a cathedral in 1723. If from the outside it doesn't look like much, the interior is sober and really beautiful. Note the presence of a tall ship suspended towards the nave, on the right. It is said to have been offered by the fishermen, to pray for them.

Located in Porvoo's old town hall, which dates back to 1764, you can see the works of Albert Edelfelt and the sculptures of Ville Vallgren, who also sculpted Havis Amanda on Helsinki's Market Square. There is also an exhibition on the Diet of Porvoo in 1809, which marked the beginning of Finnish autonomy and on the nobility of the city. There are also more than 220,000 archaeological and art objects on display, as well as archives including maps...

Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905 in Porvoo) had this small workshop built in 1883: it was there that he produced his most important paintings. Open to the public since 1951, the studio exhibits drawings, paintings, photos and objects that once belonged to the painter. Albert Edelfelt learned painting at the Beaux-Arts in Paris. He will meet artists such as Zola, Daudet and a colorist, Jules Bastien-Lepage. His love for Paris and his success inspired other Finnish artists to come and settle there later.

The family of the poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg settled in this Empire style house. When the poet died, the Finnish State bought the house: the furniture remained intact and evokes the daily life of the poet and his contemporaries at the beginning of the 19th century. The beautiful Fredrika garden (his wife's first name) adjoining is flowered in summer with roses in particular. Today Runeberg is celebrated on February 5 in the country, the occasion for everyone to taste the famous Runerberg cakes that his wife prepared for him: a real delight!