At the Ii Local History Museum and in Iin Wanha Hamina, you can explore different sides of the area: an exhibition on history and everyday objects, as well as archaeological traces of a once-important marketplace. Art along the Iijoki and short themed trails add further perspectives on Ii to these cultural discoveries.
Iin Wanha Hamina: Museum and Archaeological History
The Ii Local History Museum is centrally located in Iin Wanha Hamina next to the church and is easy to reach. In the Huilingi building, you can visit the interior of a floating accommodation vessel and a room on the theme of “Old Hamina”; details of the interior exhibition may change. In a granary, the renovated main exhibition presents Ii’s history and objects from agriculture and crafts. The museum offers a glimpse of everything from distinctive interiors to the objects and activities that have played a part in the area’s history.
One of Northern Ostrobothnia’s most significant historical marketplaces was located in the Iin Hamina area at the mouth of the Iijoki. The cemetery in Iin Hamina was also in use during the Middle Ages, probably mainly in the 15th and 16th centuries. Iin Hamina is classified as a nationally significant archaeological site under the VARK programme. An old church was also probably located in the area.
The streets of Alakatu and Yläkatu along the Iijoki in Iin Wanha Hamina are lined mostly with renovated buildings dating back centuries. The oldest wooden houses date from around the early 19th century. This dating points to a different period than the medieval traces of the cemetery: the history of Iin Hamina spans several eras, rather than just one building or period of use.
Art along the Iijoki
The Environmental Art Park is located along the Iijoki in central Ii and was founded in 2012. Its works include international contemporary art, as well as ecological environmental and sculpture art; individual works may change. Site-specific works from the Art Ii Biennale are located mainly in the Environmental Art Park and around the Ii municipal centre. Both areas are therefore relevant when finding your way around.
The Lähde! Park is also located along the Iijoki in Suvantola. It has exercise equipment and “Strange Flowers,” a public ceramic artwork by Paula Suominen. Alongside works in the Environmental Art Park, visitors interested in public art can also find a named artwork in another park in Ii.
Trails and nature experiences
The Ruustinna Cultural Landscape Route starts in Iin Wanha Hamina, is 2 km long and can be travelled on foot or by bicycle. It is accessible and runs along public paved roads. Information boards cover Ii’s history, nature and way of life; you can listen to the stories on your own phone in Finnish and English. Local conditions may affect the route’s length, course, surface and interpretation. Check conditions before your visit.
For comparison, the Hiastinhaara Nature Trail is also 2 km long, while the Patakari Circular Route is 0.7 km. Both trails are suitable for families with children. The Patakari Circular Route is therefore the shorter of the two, while Ruustinna offers information on history, nature and way of life, as well as the option of cycling the route.
Hiastinlahti in Ii is part of a Natura 2000 nature conservation area and is nationally significant for birdwatching. This makes observing nature a distinct activity alongside visiting cultural sites and trails. The appeal of the options lies in being able to prioritise different interests when planning your trip, rather than treating all the experiences as one route.
A seasonal offering in the park
In winter, the Environmental Art Park has an ice skating track about 500 metres long. A separate path alongside it is for pedestrians, cross-country skiers and fatbikers. Maintenance and opening conditions may vary; check the latest information before your visit. This makes it easy to distinguish the seasonal offering from the artworks described as being there on an ongoing basis, and to take it into account when planning.
Discover more destinations: Nivankylä, Lankojärvi, Hankamäki, Siikajoki, Taivalkoski, Siikalatva, Närpes, Pyhäntä.
For the regional travel overview: Northern Ostrobothnia.
