Naantali
) (Swedish
Nådendal, Latin
Vallis Gratiae, or valley of grace) is a
city in south-western
Finland, known as one of the the most important
tourist centres of the country. The small city, with a population of 13,818 (
2004-12-31), is located in the
region of
Finland Proper, 15 kilometres west of
Turku.
The city encompasses a land area of 51.08
square kilometres. Most of this area is located on the island of
Luonnonmaa southwest of the city centre, but the majority of the population lives on the mainland. In fact, most of the island is forest and farmland, while the mainland consists chiefly of residential areas.
This interesting divide between urban and rural is perhaps one reason as to why the city has been named the most popular tourist centre in the country in numerous surveys. Another factor affecting this is the proximity of both Turku, the region's administrative centre and largest city, and of the beautiful
archipelago.
There are some important points of interest in the city, such as the
Moomin World theme park on the island of Kailo, Naantali Spa Hotel, the largest spa in
Scandinavia, and the mediaeval
convent church of Naantali. The city's popularity as a tourist venue is highlighted by the fact that the official summer residence of the
President of Finland, the
Kultaranta estate, is located on Luonnonmaa.
Naantali hosts an international
music festival every June, and the traditional Sleepyhead Day
carnival in July.
 |
Part of the Naantali market place and Tullikatu, the city's main street |
In addition to tourism, the city's main industries are
electricity production,
oil refining,
manufacturing, and
services. The
seaport of Naantali is the third largest in Finland in terms of goods traffic, and the city is home to a
power plant and an oil refinery owned by the government-controlled company
Fortum.
One of the oldest cities in Finland, Naantali was founded around the mediaeval convent church that still controls its skyline. The charter was signed by King
Christopher of
Sweden, the then ruler of Finland, in
1443. The convent got trading rights and other privileges, and the town around it began to grow. It also became an important destination for
pilgrimage.
In the
16th century, as
Catholicism gave way to
Protestantism as the official religion of
Finland, the convent was closed, and the city plunged into a depression. This lasted until the mid-
18th century, when the city got a
tollgate and a customs chamber. In the two centuries of economic stagnation before that the city had become famous for its knitted
stockings, a craft carried on from the times of the convent.
The year
1863 saw the founding of the spa at Cape Kalevanniemi, which raised the city's status as a holiday venue. In
1922, the Kultaranta estate on
Luonnonmaa was made the official summer residence for the President of the Republic, after Finland had gained its independence five years earlier.
The true prosperity of the city began in the 1950's, as the heavy industries that dominate the city's economy were established. In
1964, the area and population of the city increased markedly as the surrounding
rural municipality of Naantali (
Naantalin maalaiskunta, which by now had a greater population than the city proper and thus was no longer rural) was annexed into it. Today, Naantali is the second richest city in Finland, and the richest in the province of
Finland Proper, measured by amounts of
council tax paid per capita.
*
The City of Naantali*
Naantali Tourist Information Ltd*
Naantali Spa Hotel*
Moomin World*
Steamship s/s Ukkopekka cruise Naantali-Turku
