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Turku, Finland

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Location

The Resume

    (1229- )
    Area: 306.37 km² (city), 252.65 km² (urban), 2,331.1 km² (metro)
    Population (as of June 30, 2015): 184,190 (city), 252,468 (urban), 315,751 (metro)
    Name derived from an Old East Slavic word meaning ‘marketplace’
    Capital of Grand Duchy of Finland (1809-1812)
    Proclaimed the official Christmas City of Finland (1996)
    Proclaimed European Capital of Culture along with Tallinn (2011)

Why Turku, Finland might be annoying:

    It was the site of a mass execution of fourteen nobles loyal to King Sigismund III Vasa by Duke Charles of Södermanland, the later King Charles IX. (November 10, 1599)
    It lost its status as capital because Russia considered it too susceptible to Swedish influence due to its proximity to Sweden. (1812)
    It was nearly destroyed in the largest urban fire ever to occur in the Nordic countries. (September 4, 1827)
    Afterwards, it declined in prominence as many major buildings were moved to Helsinki.
    Many historically significant buildings were destroyed when the city underwent renovation during the 1950s and 1960s.
    An assailant attempted arson to a school repurposed for housing asylum seekers. (December 25, 2015)

Why Turku, Finland might not be annoying:

    It has long exerted a strong influence in Finland thanks to its long history.
    It is called Finland's gateway to the West because of its strong connections with cities in Western Europe and Russia.
    Founded in 1640, the Royal Academy of Turku (now the University of Helsinki due to its relocation) is the oldest university in Finland.
    Many post-Soviet Russians (including Vladimir Putin) studied Western economic practices in the city.
    Luostarinmäki, the only area that survived the 1827 fire, provides visitors a glimpse of how Finns lived in the 19th Century.
    Its iconic castle and cathedral are Finland's oldest buildings that are still in use today.
    It is the origin of the Turun Sinappi, a type of mustard sauce with a spicy flavor used during summer barbeques.

Credit: Big Lenny


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 22 Votes: 31.82% Annoying