Naantali

Naantali is one of the six medieval towns in Finland (together with Porvoo, Rauma, Turku, Ulvila and Vyborg). It originated in 1443 as a Bridgettine convent. The Latin name of the convent was Vallis Gratiae, The Valley of Mercy. In Swedish this was Nådens dal which turned into Naantali in the mouths of the Finnish-speaking laymen.

After the Lutheran reformation in the 1530s, the convent was closed down and the town faced hard times. The convent had taught handicraft skills to the locals and especially the women had learned to weave. During the years after abolishment of the convent, the town received significant income by selling long socks which had become a very popular men's garment those days. The church was repaired by governor general Per Brahe in 1660. The depression continued until the mid-18th century, when the town got a customs chamber and new vitality.

The customs chamber was marked with a large copper sun so that no one could say they didn't find the place where the customs fee must be paid. This led to a well known Finnish proverb that something "is shining like the Naantali's sun" (loistaa kuin Naantalin aurinko). Today the proverb has positive meaning.

In 1723 professor Peter Elfving came to conclusion that water from the Viluluoto spring can cure many illnesses, and finally in 1837 a spa was established at the spring. However, the location was awkwardly remote, and fairly soon the spa was relocated by the sea next to the church, but its fame had spread. The era of tourism in Naantali had started.

Modern day Naantali does not live from tourism only. The town has a busy freight port, in fact one of the busiest in Finland. There is also some heavy industry. However, you have to stray away quite a bit from the tourist areas to notice those.

The main road to Naantali leads via Raisio outside Turku, which is just 17 km away. Passenger train service has been terminated

By bus:

There are frequent buses from Turku (30 min; buses number 6, 6A, 201 and 203): local ticket with two hours free transfer as usual in the Föli area. The 1 bus station is at the border of the old town, walk through it to get to the church, the shore and the Moomin world.

By boat:

From Turku, a much slower and more expensive but far more scenic option is the Ukkopekka steamship twice daily straight to the Naantali old town, not far from the Moomin World. The journey winds through the gorgeous archipelago and takes two hours each way (€20/25 one-way/return, operates June–Aug only).

From Sweden there are the daily ropax ferries of Finnlines, from Kapellskär (in Norrtälje), some of them via Långnäs (in Åland). This is the shortest and cheapest way directly across with a car (about €60 including driver, buffet meal included), but the ferry is considerably more bare-bones than those floating palaces that operate between Turku and Stockholm. If you don't have a car, check special requirements.

Naantali has a quite popular guest harbour, but the biggest sailing yachts cannot enter due to bridges (three routes, highest 16.5 m, shortest 11 m).

2 Naantali guest harbour, Nunnakatu 18, ☏ +358 45-605-7455, satamavouti@nvvs.fi. The main marina is in the heart of the old town. Restaurant. Saunas and showers available. €26/night; day fee €5. (updated May 2016)

There are several guest harbours farther away in the archipelago, some of which have usable bus connections to the town.

By car:

Naantali is at the western end of the Turku bypass, Highway 40, part of E18. From the north along Highway 8 (E8), follow the signage towards Naantali when you are to cross the bypass. From Turku, take regional road 185 for Naantali (coinciding with E8 for the first 1½ kilometres). From elsewhere, the most direct option is probably the E18.