Turku in the South-western corner of Finland celebrated its 775th birthday in 2004. It is the country's oldest city and the first capital of the whole country. Today it is the capital of its region, the Southwest Finland. Turku is often said to be the only West European town in Finland as all medieval European towns have four things in common: a river for transport, a cathedral for religious power, a castle that represents the secular power and last but not least - a market place for acts of commerce. Turku has them all!