On the banks of the Porvoonjoki River around fifty kilometres east of the Finnish metropolis of Helsinki is the picturesque town of Porvoo. The origin of today’s bishop’s town dates back to 1346 and after Turku it is the second oldest town in Finland.

Porvoo was located on one of Scandinavia’s most important trading routes, the historic King’s Road, which became a pawn in the hands of the great powers.

In 1760 a devastating fire reduced the town to ashes. Unfortunately only a few buildings survived the catastrophe. However, the historic centre of Porvoo, with its charming old buildings, has managed to maintain much of its original atmosphere.

Porvoo’s oldest building dates back to the sixteenth century yet the town’s other buildings more than compensate for their lack of age by way of their pretty floral decorations.

The idyllic, narrow lanes and shopping streets as well as the colourful buildings, form a unique ensemble that is truly unforgettable. Porvoo is rightfully described as a Finnish treasure trove of mediaeval architecture!