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CHURCH BOAT

Traditional Finnish rowing boat

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 - Church boat, “kirkkovene”, is a traditional Finnish rowing boat, which carried our ancestors almost every Sunday sometimes tremendously long distances to the holy mass. After the holy mass they almost immediately set themselves up for the trip homewards. If there was time waiting for the others they gathered strength by eating and resting for the race with the other boats sharing the same trip or part of it back home.  The boats now use for fun ecological exercise, sightseeing and races.

The wooden rowing boats, a 12 meters long carry 14 oarsmen (one oar each) and a cox steering the boat.

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River Aura banks

 

The river Aura is where the city began to develop in the 1200s. The river attracted settlement, settlement attracted trade and from trade the port and later the city got started. Today the river is still the heart of Turku. It is the place for walks, sightseeing, dining - just to have a good time. The landmarks of Turku - the castle and the cathedral - are situated by the river. The river Aura houses a fleet of boat restaurants as well as stately museum vessels. The unique river ferry ' Föri' takes people across the river and the bigger ships on longer cruises to Turku archipelago.

FINLAND POSTCARDS COLLECTION

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Panoramic view of Turku, Finland

Turku is also known as Åbo in Swedish name, Turku is the oldest city (783 years in 2012) and the first capital of Finland until 1812).