Pori: Art, Nature and Culture

Contemporary art, a central park with summer wildlife and the history of an industrial company reveal different sides of Pori. The experiences are just as varied: the Pori Art Museum focuses on Finnish and international art, while Kirjurinluoto brings together walking trails, recreational activities and the summer venue for Pori Jazz. If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Pori, you can take your vacation priorities into account when choosing the right base.

Art in a historic museum building

Founded in 1981, the Pori Art Museum is dedicated to contemporary art. Its temporary exhibitions explore current trends in Finnish and international art as well as social issues. The collections comprise nearly 4,000 works of Finnish and international art, spanning the early 19th century to the present day. Works from the collections feature in rotating exhibitions and at various events.

The museum is located on Pori’s Eteläranta, in a building dating from 1860 on the banks of the Kokemäenjoki River. The same building also houses a cellar ruin from the 17th century. Different periods therefore sit side by side in the museum: historic building fabric and a ruin on one hand, and art from several centuries and changing exhibitions on the other. The museum is about 1.5 kilometres from the bus station and railway station. It is also a cycle-friendly Welcome Cyclist destination, located along well-developed cycling routes.

Kirjurinluoto: Park, walks and summer experiences

Kirjurinluoto is Pori’s central park and a popular recreation and leisure area. It is about a five-minute walk from the market square. For a walk, there is a short 1.3-kilometre loop; Kirjurinluoto also offers opportunities to spend time in a natural setting close to the city. In summer, the park is also a venue for Pori Jazz.

Family-friendly attractions include the freely accessible play areas in Pelle-Hermanni Park. The park covers about three hectares and has slides and climbing frames for different age groups. At Vinkkari Traffic Park, children can ride pedal cars and bicycles while learning about traffic rules. These specific activities can be given different priority when planning your day: play areas and the traffic park offer a different focus from the walking trails or events.

Summer wildlife is also part of Kirjurinluoto’s character: visitors can see alpacas, goats and birds such as peacocks and chickens. If you would rather plan a sporting activity, Kirjurinluoto Disc Golf Park has 21 holes. The tee areas are surfaced with artificial turf.

Gardens and cultural history

Hanhipuisto Show Garden features trees, shrubs and flowering plants that thrive in Satakunta. These include some rarer species and varieties. This makes the garden a different kind of nature experience from wildlife watching in Kirjurinluoto: here, the focus is on plants and their diversity.

The Rosenlew Museum and Jusélius Mausoleum offer further insights into history. The Rosenlew Museum preserves and presents the industrial heritage of the Satakunta region. Its permanent exhibition covers the history and production of the Rosenlew company; objects and photographs relating to the working and leisure lives of its employees are also on display. The museum is housed in a state granary completed in the 1860s and preserved for its cultural and historical value.

The Jusélius Mausoleum in Käppärä Cemetery is part of Pori National Urban Park. Church architect Josef Stenbäck designed the mausoleum in the Gothic Revival style. The current frescoes were painted by Jorma Gallen-Kallela between 1933 and 1939, based on designs by his father, Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The mausoleum is therefore a distinct attraction for travellers interested in architecture and art history.

The Pori Art Museum is about 1.5 kilometres from the railway station and bus station; Kirjurinluoto is about a five-minute walk from the market square. These distances refer to the places mentioned and can help you plan your own itinerary.

Other destinations to explore include Eurajoki, Noormarkku, Luvia, Harjavalta, Honkajoki, Kokemäki, Kalliala and Lamppi.

For the broader travel overview: Satakunta.