Charming Old PorvooThe 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
Trade and gardensShore houses, cobblestone streets and idyllic gardens make Old Porvoo a uniquely historical urban milieu. Porvoo has been an important centre of trade since the 13th century. Jokikatu and Välikatu have always been lively shopping streets. People came to the city to shop, spend the night, have fun and eat well. Today, this tradition continues as people enjoy the unique atmosphere in the streets, gardens, cafés, resraurants, hotels, galleries and museums. The buildings in Old Porvoo today were built according to a medieval town plan and are ofhistorical value in terms of their construction. The Old Porvoo district currently covers an area of 18 hectares, with 250 residential buildings and 300 outbuildings. Roughly 700 people live in this area.
Shore houses
The shore houses are now red, but they got their colour only in the late 18th century. Red ochre paint was used to paint the shore houses in honour of King Gustav III's arrival from Sweden. All of the houses along his route were painted, in order to make them more beautiful. The red ochre also helped protect the logs from wind and sun damage. Exotic fruits, wines and spices were brought to Porvoo, and the shore houses also served as intermediate storehouses for coffee an tobacco. Today the shore houses are used as private living quarters and storage space.
Last updated 23.4.2010