Description of the attraction
The most popular and visited place in Porvoo is the Old Town and the beautiful cathedral located there (this is the third most popular church in Finland, judging by the number of visitors). The layout of the Old Town has been preserved almost unchanged since the Middle Ages. It is dominated by low wooden houses painted in bright colors, colorful courtyards, narrow, curving cobbled streets.
Basically, this part of the city was built up according to the designs of the famous architect K. L. Engel after the devastating fire in 1760. The city's symbol is low picturesque houses along the river embankment, painted in a traditional red-brown color.
A simple walk around this quarter is already a pleasant pastime. Cozy Christmas lighting enhances the beauty of Old Porvoo in December and January.
The cathedral was rebuilt several times and acquired its status only in 1723. The pediment of the church is richly decorated with stucco molding, and inside the church there is a memorial plaque telling that it was here that the historic Borgo Sejm took place with the participation of the Russian Emperor Alexander I, when Finland was proclaimed a Grand Duchy.
