Partially because of the Swedish incursion across the Aland islands this is an ethnically & culturally complex & very old city. Turku was founded in 13th century. It is the oldest city in Finland and capital of the historical Finland Proper. The name originates from East Slavic word "tǔrgǔ", which means a "market place". Main medieval buildings include the Cathedral of Turku (1300), Dominican monastery (1249) and the Castle (main image), which dates back to 1280s. In the 16th century Duke Johan and Katarina Jagellonica ruled from there and got its famous Renaissance Floor built. The first school in Finland was the Cathedral School operated from the Cathedral of Turku. In the Middle Ages the city was also the spiritual center of Finland, with the Archbishop of Turku residing there.

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