Finland´s oldest city, Turku is a nationally and internationally attractive city of culture and a competence centre providing an excellent quality of life and an innovative environment for work (Turku strategy 2005-2006).

Turku is a located in South-West Finland, onshore of the Baltic sea.

Turku celebrated its 775th anniversary 2004. Its´s also old capital of Finland and nowadays the 5th biggest with 175 000 inhabitants. The river Aura is flowing through the city to the Baltic Sea offering on the riverbanks many kilometres of boulevards, pedestrian and recreational areas, which are among the elite of Finnish urban surroundings. In the city the river passes by nationally important medieval monuments: the Cathedral, the Old Town Square and the Turku Castle.

The various cultural events e.g. Medieval Days in summer and Christmas City events at wintertime interest both local people as well as attract tourists to visit the city. The City of Turku has been nominated for the European Capital of Culture 2011.

Healthy Cities:

Turku joined the Healthy Cities network from the start in 1987. During the first ten years the project was located in the Health Care department. Since 1998 the Healthy Cities coordination is placed at the City Council’s office and managed by the Deputy Mayor. Including health and well-being into the Turku-Strategy, securing political and administrative sectors’ commitment and increasing visibility are the goals for the Healthy Cities phase IV 2003-2008.

Examples of best practices are:
- physical activity promotion promoting participation in the districts and neighbourhoods
- supporting the children, youth and families
- developing environmental balance of accounts Especially fruitful has been the networking with the Finnish National Healthy Cities network and the Baltic Region Healthy Cities.