Pori – Art, City Park and Nature Experiences
Accommodation in Pori
Pori combines art and industrial history with a central park, gardens, and opportunities for outdoor activities. When planning your trip, the question is therefore less about choosing a single focus and more about which sides of the city you would like to discover: contemporary art, the history of a company, or walks and leisure activities in Kirjurinluoto.
Art on the banks of the Kokemäenjoki
Founded in 1981, the Pori Art Museum is dedicated to contemporary art. Its temporary exhibitions showcase current trends in Finnish and international art and address social issues. The collections also comprise nearly 4,000 works of Finnish and international art, dating from the early 19th century to the present day. Works from the collections can be seen in both changing exhibitions and various events.
The building itself adds a historical dimension to a museum visit: it was built in 1860 and is located on Eteläranta, on the banks of the Kokemäenjoki. The building also contains the ruins of a 17th-century cellar. If you are interested in art, you can experience both changing exhibitions and a collection spanning a long period of time here.
The Pori Art Museum is about 1.5 kilometres from the bus station and railway station. It is designated as a Welcome Cyclist destination and is located along well-developed cycle paths. This means you can also include cycling as an option when planning your museum visit.
Industrial history and architecture
The Rosenlew Museum presents and preserves the industrial heritage of the Satakunta region. Its permanent exhibition explores the history and production of the Rosenlew company. It is complemented by objects and photographs related to the working and leisure lives of the company's employees. The focus is therefore not only on the company, but also on the everyday lives of the people who worked there.
The museum is housed in a state granary completed in the 1860s. The building was preserved because of its cultural and historical value. The Jusélius Mausoleum in Käppärä Cemetery, which is part of Pori National Urban Park, offers another way to experience architecture and art. Church architect Josef Stenbäck designed the mausoleum in the Gothic Revival style. The present-day frescoes were painted by Jorma Gallen-Kallela between 1933 and 1939, based on designs by his father, Akseli Gallen-Kallela.
Kirjurinluoto: park, walks and leisure
Kirjurinluoto is Pori's central park and a popular recreation and leisure area. The short walking loop is 1.3 kilometres long; the natural surroundings near the city also offer opportunities for walks. Kirjurinluoto is about a five-minute walk from Pori Market Square. In summer, it is also a venue for Pori Jazz.
Pelle-Hermanni Park has around three hectares of free-to-access play areas, slides, and climbing frames for different age groups. At Vinkkari Traffic Park, children can ride pedal cars and bicycles while learning about traffic rules. For another activity, Kirjurinluoto Disc Golf Park has a course with 21 holes; the tee areas are surfaced with artificial turf.
Nature watching is another of the experiences available in Kirjurinluoto: summer visitors can see alpacas, goats, and birds such as peacocks and chickens. Hanhipuisto display garden offers a different focus. Among its trees, shrubs, and flowering plants are species that thrive in Satakunta, including rarer varieties and cultivars.
Pori thus offers different options for choosing the focus of your stay: museum collections and architecture for culture enthusiasts, industrial history at the Rosenlew Museum, and walks and leisure activities in the park. If you would like to explore other destination pages at the same level: Aikkila, Kalliala, Siikainen, Kokemäki, Kankaanpää, Harjavalta and Säkylä.
For the overview of the wider region: Satakunta.
More about the destination
Useful information for planning your trip:
