A building erected in 1860 on Eteläranta houses the Pori Art Museum; it also contains a cellar ruin dating back to the 17th century. In Pori, different discoveries sit side by side: contemporary art, the city’s central park and Satakunta’s industrial heritage. These places and themes offer different ways to shape your stay.
Art and Architectural History on the Kokemäenjoki
Founded in 1981, the Pori Art Museum is dedicated to contemporary art. Its high-quality temporary exhibitions showcase current trends in Finnish and international art and engage with pressing social issues. The collections comprise nearly 4,000 works of Finnish and international art, dating from the early 19th century to the present day. Works from the collections are shown in changing exhibitions and at various events. This brings contemporary artistic perspectives together with a collection spanning a long period of time.
The museum is on the banks of the Kokemäenjoki, about 1.5 kilometres from the bus station and railway station. It is a Welcome Cyclist destination and is located on well-developed cycling routes. For visitors interested in both art and architecture, the building also shapes the museum experience: it dates from 1860 and, alongside the exhibition spaces, houses the historic cellar ruin.
Kirjurinluoto: Park, Plants and Activities
Kirjurinluoto is Pori’s central park and a popular area for recreation and leisure. It is about a five-minute walk from the market square. There is a short 1.3-kilometre loop for a walk, as well as opportunities to walk in a natural setting close to the city. In summer, visitors can see alpacas, goats, peacocks and chickens. These seasonal animal encounters are distinct from the year-round botanical focus of the Hanhipuisto display garden.
Trees, shrubs and flowering plants that thrive in Satakunta grow in Hanhipuisto, including rarer species and varieties. Another focus is physical activity: Kirjurinluoto Disc Golf Park has 21 holes, with artificial turf at the tee pads. At Vinkkari Traffic Park, you can ride pedal cars and bicycles while learning the rules of the road.
There are also several specific options for play. The approximately three-hectare Pelle-Hermanni Park offers free-to-access play areas, slides and climbing frames for different age groups. Kirjurinluoto is also a summer venue for Pori Jazz. The park, display garden, walking route, play areas and event venue offer different ways to spend time in this part of Pori.
Mausoleum and Industrial History
Another architectural stop is the Jusélius Mausoleum in Käppärä Cemetery, which is part of Pori National Urban Park. The Neo-Gothic mausoleum was designed by church architect Josef Stenbäck. Its current frescoes were painted by Jorma Gallen-Kallela between 1933 and 1939, based on designs by his father, Akseli Gallen-Kallela. The design and frescoes thus bring together two generations of artists in one building.
The Rosenlew Museum is dedicated to the industrial heritage of the Satakunta region. Its permanent exhibition presents the history and production of the Rosenlew company; objects and photographs related to the working and leisure lives of Rosenlew employees are also on display. The museum is housed in a state-owned granary, completed in the 1860s and preserved for its cultural and historical value. Company and everyday life history thus complement the art and architecture themes Pori offers visitors.
Discover more destinations: Honkajoki, Harjavalta, Eura, Luvia, Säkylä, Kalliala, Rauma, Kokemäki
For the main travel overview: Satakunta.
