Attractions
Porvoo’s charm is said to have inspired artists for centuries. One of the most important of them was the artist Albert Edelfelt. Among his contemporaries were the sculptors Ville Vallgren and Walter Runeberg. Still today, Porvoo is home to many influential people in the world of culture.
Following in Edelfelt’s footsteps
Albert Edelfelt was born in Porvoo in 1854, but lived most of his adult life in Paris. In summer he returned to Porvoo and at his studio in Haikko immortalised many landscapes in the local area. The artist’s studio, built for himself, still exists and is open to visitors in summer. His works are exhibited in Haikko Manor Hotel and Porvoo Museum. Following the brochure about Edelfelt, you can visit the places where the artist painted. The brochure is available from the Tourist Office in English and Russian, as well as in Finnish and Swedish.
Summer fireworks
Culture in Porvoo today is also music, theatre, handicrafts in many forms and cultural events. The city has several galleries and media art is also finding forms of expression. There are new premises for amateur theatre on Vänrikinkatu Street, and especially in summer, performers go out into the streets, the courtyards and the river banks. The usual venue of Porvoo’s summer musical event, Avanti! Summer Sounds, the Art Factory, is at present under repair, so the concerts will be held at various venues around town at the end of June. There are plenty of other events to choose from.