Tornio

Tornio (Swedish: Torneå) is a city in Finnish Lapland, by the border to Sweden.

Understand

Being estabilished in 1621 Tornio is definitely the oldest city in Lapland. Today the city has approximately 22 000 inhabitants. Tornio forms a unique economical zone together with Swedish town Haparanda; the border between the countries is hardly visible.

The city has a large steel factory and a famous brewery (Lapin Kulta), which was closed in August 2010. Outokumpu steel company is biggest employer in Tornio area.

While Tornio may be a good place to view the Northern Lights, many things are closed during the winter – without necessarily being advertised as such.

See

• ⊙Church of Tornio. One of the most beautiful wooden churches still in use in Finland. The church was designed and completed by Matti Härmä in 1689, making the building over 300 years old. 
• ⊙Church of Alatornio . Classic church designed by Jacob Rijfin and completed in 1797. The church is part of the Struve Geodetic Arc protected as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
• ⊙Orthodox Church of Tornio. An orthodox church completed in 1884 and dedicated to apostles Peter and Paul. Open during the summer.
• ⊙Arboretum Park. An excellent teaching and observation area. No entrance fee. 
• ⊙Historical Museum of Tornio River Valley (Torniolaakson maakuntamuseo), Torikatu 4. A visit to the museum gives a good overall impression of the history of the entire Western part of Lapland. Entrance fee: €2-4. 

Handicraft

• ⊙ Smeds Gold & Silver Gallery, Kemintie 6. Silversmith Jorma Smeds forges traditional Lap Silver using hammer and an anvil. 
• ⊙Jaur Showroom, Teollisuuskatu 8. Open M-F 12-16.30. A design gallery which presents the internationally renowned artefacts of Eero Hyrkäs. Free entrance. 
• ⊙Aine Art Museum (Aineen taidemuseo), Torikatu 2. Open Tu-Th 11-18, F-Su 11-15. The art collection presented in the museum is from the Aine Visual Arts Foundation collection. Entrance fee: €4, children for free.

Useful

Inside the range of 4 km:

• ⊙   Tourist Office Haparanda, Haparanda