The Old Town of Porvoo is unique. The mosaic-like town plan with its maze of streets and irregularly shaped plots dates back to the Middle Ages. Since then the town suffered many fires, but always the stubborn citizens rebuilt their houses on the same foundations.

Many of the boutiques and services are located on Jokikatu and Välikatu Streets and around the church, but it's also worth looking a bit further. In the sidestreets and lanes it's easy to take a step back in time and forget the modern world. The small idyllic parks and sleepy cobbled streets among the houses entice the visitor to linger and refl ect on the past.

In 1809 Porvoo was a centre of attention in all of Northern Europe. Sweden had lost the war and Finland was ceded to Russia. The Russian Czar, Aleksander I, convened the Estates of Finland for the Diet of Porvoo. It is easy to imagine the Czar's journey from the ‘castle' in Jokikatu Street to the Cathedral, as many of the houses still stand on their original sites.

Porvoo Museum in the Old Town Hall is open once again following repair work. The displays depict people and events in the area. The Cathedral, too, has been repaired and visitors arriving from the west are greeted from afar by its massive profi le. The best way to fi nd out about local history is to go on one of the guided walking tours, which are organised almost daily in summer