kids encyclopedia robot

Naantali facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Naantali

Nådendal
City
Naantalin kaupunki
Nådendals stad
Images, from top, left to right: Naantali’s medieval stone church and SS Ukkopekka, Jöns Budde statue, Särkänsalmi bridge, the guest harbour and Old Town of Naantali, Moomin's haus in Moomin World (Muumimaailma), Naantali Old Town and Archipelago of Naantali.
Images, from top, left to right: Naantali’s medieval stone church and SS Ukkopekka, Jöns Budde statue, Särkänsalmi bridge, the guest harbour and Old Town of Naantali, Moomin's haus in Moomin World (Muumimaailma), Naantali Old Town and Archipelago of Naantali.
Coat of arms of Naantali
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): 
The Valley of Grace
Location of Naantali in Finland
Location of Naantali in Finland
Country  Finland
Region Southwest Finland
Sub-region Turku sub-region
Metropolitan area Turku metropolitan area
Charter 1443
Area
 (2018-01-01)
 • Total 687.98 km2 (265.63 sq mi)
 • Land 312.58 km2 (120.69 sq mi)
 • Water 376.51 km2 (145.37 sq mi)
Area rank 231st largest in Finland
Population
 (2023-12-31)
 • Total 19,999
 • Rank 54th largest in Finland
 • Density 63.98/km2 (165.7/sq mi)
 • 
18 800
Population by native language
 • Finnish 94.8% (official)
 • Swedish 1.4%
 • Others 3.9%
Population by age
 • 0 to 14 14.8%
 • 15 to 64 58.8%
Time zone UTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+03:00 (EEST)

Naantali (pronounced "NAHN-tah-lee") is a beautiful town in Southwest Finland. It's known as a popular place to visit, especially in the summer. Many people come here for holidays.

The town has about 19,000 people living there. It is located about 14 kilometers (9 miles) west of Turku, a larger city. Naantali covers a land area of about 312 square kilometers (120 sq mi). Most of this area is made up of islands. However, most of the people live on the mainland part of the town. The islands are mostly covered with forests and farms. The mainland has more homes and buildings.

History of Naantali

How Naantali Began

Naantali is one of the oldest towns in Finland. It started around a special church called the Brigittine convent Vallis gratiae. This church still stands tall in the town today. The town officially became a town in 1443. This was when King Christopher of Bavaria, who ruled Finland at the time, signed a special document. The convent was given rights to trade and other benefits. This helped the town grow. Naantali also became an important place for people to visit for religious reasons.

Times of Change

In the 1500s, the official religion in Finland changed from Catholicism to Protestantism. Because of this, the convent was closed. The town then went through a difficult time. This lasted for about 200 years. During this time, Naantali became famous for its knitted stockings. This skill was passed down from the people in the convent.

Growing as a Holiday Spot

Things started to get better in the mid-1700s. The town got a tollgate and a customs office. In 1863, a spa was built at Cape Kalevanniemi. This made Naantali even more popular as a holiday place. In 1922, a large estate called Kultaranta became the official summer home for the President of Finland. This happened five years after Finland became an independent country.

Modern Naantali

On January 1, 2009, some nearby towns joined with Naantali. These were Merimasku, Rymättylä, and Velkua. This made Naantali bigger. The town also has a very high income from taxes per person. It is the second highest in all of Finland and the highest in the Southwest Finland region.

What Naantali Means

The name Naantali comes from the Swedish name of the town, Nådendal. The Swedish name is a direct translation from the Latin words Vallis Gratiae. This means "The Valley of Grace."

Fun Things to Do in Naantali

Popular Tourist Spots

Naantali is a popular place for tourists. It's close to Turku, which is the biggest city in the region. It's also near the beautiful archipelago, which is a group of many islands.

Some of the most popular places to visit in Naantali include:

  • Moomin World: This is a fun theme park located on Kailo island. It's based on the popular Moomin characters.
  • Naantali’s medieval convent stone church: This old church is a very important historical building.
  • Kultaranta estate: This is the official summer home of the President of Finland. It is located on Luonnonmaa island.

Exploring the Archipelago

You can take a boat trip on the archipelago sea with the S/S Ukkopekka steamship. This old steamship offers cruises between Naantali and Turku. It's a great way to see the islands.

Festivals and Events

Naantali hosts a special international music festival every June. It's a great event for music lovers. In July, the town celebrates the traditional Sleepyhead Day carnival.

Naantali's Culture

Sleepyhead Day Celebration

Every year on July 27, Naantali celebrates National Sleepy Head Day (called Unikeonpäivä in Finnish). This is a very old tradition. A special "sleepy head" is chosen, usually a famous Finnish person. At 8 a.m., this person is thrown into the sea from the city's port. The identity of the sleepy head is kept a secret until the event. People who are chosen for this honor have usually done something good for the city.

Other Important Businesses

Besides tourism, Naantali has other big industries. These include making electricity, refining oil, manufacturing goods, and providing services. The Port of Naantali is very busy. It is the third largest port in Finland for moving goods. The city also has a power plant and an oil refinery. These are owned by the companies Fortum and Neste.

Naantali Around the World

Sister Cities

Naantali has special connections with other towns around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They work together and share ideas. Naantali is twinned with:

  • Sweden Vadstena, Sweden
  • Denmark Nordfyn, Denmark
  • Norway Svelvik, Norway
  • Iceland Vesturbyggð, Iceland
  • Poland Puck, Poland
  • Russia Kirovsk, Russia

Famous People from Naantali

Some well-known people who come from Naantali include:

  • Kaarlo Heinonen (1878–1944)
  • Teppo Rastio (born 1934)
  • Pekka Siitoin (1944–2003)
  • Keijo Virtanen (born 1945)
  • Ilkka Kantola (born 1957)
  • Lauri Heikkilä (born 1957)
  • Jukka Vilander (born 1962)
  • Cristal Snow (born 1975)

Images for kids

  • Naantalin kirkko

    Naantali Church, one of the oldest monuments in Finland

  • Kultaranta 1920

    Kultaranta Castle residence of the President of Finland, in 1920

  • SS Ukkopekka 1

    Steamship S/S Ukkopekka

  • Muumimaailma naantali 11

    Moomin World is one of the most popular theme parks of Northern Europe.

  • Street in Naantali

    Street view in the summertime.

  • SS Ukkopekka port of Naantali

    Naantali old town and harbour

  • Nådendal, Finland framstäldt i teckningar 7

    Litograph of Nådendal from mid-19th century, published in Finland framstäldt i teckningar by Zacharias Topelius.

  • Utsigt af Nådendal från syd-vest - Berndt Lindholm - En resa i Finland - 022

    Steel engraving of Nådendal from mid-19th century, published in En resa i Finland by Zacharias Topelius

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Naantali para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Naantali Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.