Museum of History & Contemporary Art

An inviting museum in the heart of the city !

Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova is history, archeaology and contemporary art combined. The remains of a town quarter discovered underground provide a picture of the town's past centuries ago. High-quality art exhibitions preent the most interesting contemporary works as well as art from the recent past.

The museum is open daily, and various events are organised weekly. There are up to six different exhibitions to see at the same time. During the summer, visitors can watch archeaological excavations being carried out in the museum.

Located in the centre of the city by the River Aura, the museum invites us to enjoy ourself, collect experiences and learn. Just pop in, or come and spend a nice day with our family or friends.

The museum is the only archeological museum in Finland. The story of the museum began in the 1990s, as a result of archeological excavations conducted on the site. The underground museum contains the remains of six stone-built houses and also an early street that runs between them. New information about the past town and its residents is constantly being discovered, as archeological excavations by the museum continue.

Did you know that medieval Turku was the second largest town in the realm of Sweden and a significant commercialn religious and administrative centre ? Excavations carried out at Aboa Vetus have revealed more than a tonne of abimal bones. The archeological exhibition, Bony Tales, presents more than 30 animal species and opens up coexistence between animals and humans. Do you recognize the skeletons ? Find out what can be concluded from a bone that is hundreds of years old. The axhibition also enlightens visitors the work of archeologists and how they perceive history.

See you on Tur'Kudos !