Pori audiotours

Pori sits at the mouth of the Kokemaki River where it meets the Gulf of Bothnia, a flat coast city whose Swedish name, Bjorneborg (Bear Fortress), is more dramatic than anything in the landscape. Founded in 1558 by Duke John of Finland, it has burned to the ground nine times in its history, more than almost any other Finnish city. The current grid of streets is largely 19th century, rebuilt after the last catastrophic fire, and there is something about that repeated reconstruction that makes the city pragmatic about its own impermanence.

In 1872, Finnish-language theatre gave its first performance in Pori.

The city has been making cultural contributions since before most people associated Finland with culture at all. But what it is internationally known for is jazz. The Pori Jazz Festival, running since 1966, is among the most significant jazz events in Europe. Miles Davis played here. Bob Dylan performed here. The nine-day July festival pulls audiences from across Scandinavia to a city that otherwise receives modest attention.