Tour Naantali - Finland's Favorite Medieval City

Most popular of Finland's four medieval towns with tourists, Naantali was settled around the Convent of St. Birgitta, founded in 1443. The convent was an extremely rich one and while it flourished, the town thrived also. But with the Reformation, its economy collapsed.

Plagued by fires and epidemics, Naantali became so impoverished that proposals were made to move its inhabitants to neighboring Turku. The townspeople survived financial disaster, however, because the nuns had taught them how to knit socks with turned heels, which were much sought after and became an important source of revenue.

The people of the town barely eked out an existence for the next three centuries. Then in 1863, a spa was opened, Naantali became a popular health center and tourists began to arrive. Today, a substantial portion of Naantali's money still comes from tourism.

Shopping and Sightseeing

The buildings of the Old Town were constructed after the great fire of 1628 on the original medieval sites. They have been painted, prettified and polished, and many of them now house specialty shops, boutiques and workshops where you can find the work of such artisans as goldsmith Karl Laine and potter Sinikka Soderlund. Among the nicest boutiques is Sade, which brims with designer clothing, hand-woven placemats, hand-knit sweaters, children's toys and other crafts.

While you're in town, you may want to visit the Naantali Museum (12-6 p.m. daily), with its gracious grounds and ten rooms full of objects representing different periods in the town's history. The Kakola Museum -- open only on Sundays from 12-6 p.m. -- and the gardens of Kultrana, the president's summer home (6-8 p.m. daily during summer) are other Naantali attractions.

Sleepyhead Day

The town's most important annual event, Sleepyhead Day, has been celebrated for nearly 100 years. Early each July 27 morning, the sounds of horns blowing, kettle lids clashing and people shouting waken anyone who might otherwise be asleep. A prominent resident, chosen "Sleepyhead" of the year, is routed from bed and thrown into the sea, kids dress up in adults' clothes and the whole town celebrates until the wee hours of the next morning.

In the old days, all public announcements were preceded by the town drummer playing drum rolls on the street corners. This tradition is kept alive when the Proclamation of Public Peace is made during Sleepyhead Days and on Christmas Eve.

On summer evenings at eight o'clock, the sound of vespers echoes from the belfry of the Convent Church. The vesper hymns are played on a trumpet in three directions; first toward the President of Finland, whose summer residence is on Luonnonmaa Island just off shore, then toward the town, and finally toward the sea. The hymns, by the way, are often chosen by the president himself.

Most of the concerts during the Naantali Music Festival are presented in the Convent Church. Held at midsummer, the festival features chamber music performed by some of the country's foremost musicians. Moomin Theme Park (Muumimaailima), with its five-story Castle, Doughnut fFctory, Fire Station and Witch's Labyrinth, is a favorite with youngsters. Adults won't want to miss the city's full service spas

You can drive from Turku to Naantali in about 15 minutes, but the most delightful way to get there on a fine day is on the steamer S/S Ukko-Pekka, which makes the trip to the old quay in the middle of Naantali's yacht harbor in two hours. Water taxis travel the route, too, and go much faster.

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Naantali Offers Spas as well as Saunas

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