View source for Naantali

{{short description|City in Southwest Finland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Naantali
| official_name = {{lang|fi|Naantalin kaupunki}}{{br}}{{lang|sv|Nådendals stad}}
| other_name = Nådendal
| nickname = The Valley of Grace<ref name="latin name"/> 
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Kuvakollaasi Naantalista.jpg
| image_caption = Images, from top, left to right: [[Naantali Church|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 Sea|Archipelago]] of Naantali.
| image_shield = Naantali.vaakuna.svg
| shield_size = 120x80px
| image_map = Naantali sijainti Suomi.svg
| map_caption = Location of Naantali in [[Finland]]
|coordinates = {{coord|60|28|N|022|02|E|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Finland}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Southwest Finland]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Turku sub-region]]
| subdivision_type3  = Metropolitan area
| subdivision_name3  = [[Turku metropolitan area]]
| leader_title = [[Town manager]]
| leader_name = Jouni Mutanen
| established_title = [[Charter]]
| established_date = 1443
|area_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|area_footnotes|Naantali}}
|area_total_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Naantali}}
|area_land_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Naantali}}
|area_water_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_water_km2|Naantali}}
|area_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|area_rank|Naantali}}
|population_as_of = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Naantali}}
|population_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Naantali}}
|population_total = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Naantali}}
|population_density_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|population_density_km2|Naantali}}
| population_blank1 = 18 800
|population_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Naantali}}
|demographics_type1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type1|Naantali}}
|demographics1_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Naantali}}
|demographics1_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title1|Naantali}}
|demographics1_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info1|Naantali}}
|demographics1_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title2|Naantali}}
|demographics1_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info2|Naantali}}
|demographics1_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title3|Naantali}}
|demographics1_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info3|Naantali}}
|demographics1_title4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title4|Naantali}}
|demographics1_info4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info4|Naantali}}
|demographics_type2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type2|Naantali}}
|demographics2_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_footnotes|Naantali}}
|demographics2_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title1|Naantali}}
|demographics2_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info1|Naantali}}
|demographics2_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title2|Naantali}}
|demographics2_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info2|Naantali}}
|demographics2_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title3|Naantali}}
|demographics2_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info3|Naantali}}
|blank_name = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Naantali}}
|blank_info = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Naantali}}
|timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +02:00
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +03:00
| website = {{Url|https://www.naantali.fi/en}}
}}

'''Naantali''' ({{IPA|fi|ˈnɑːntɑli}}; {{langx|sv|Nådendal}}) is a [[municipalities of Finland|town]] in [[Southwest Finland]], and, as a [[resort town]] during the summer, an important centre of [[tourism]] in the country.<ref name="sunshine1">[https://www.itinari.com/naantali-the-sunniest-finnish-city-to-visit-in-summer-3fa2 Naantali: the sunniest Finnish city to visit in summer – Itinari]</ref><ref name="sunshine2">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160615061856/http://livenowdreamlater.net/en/2016/06/14/naantali-finland/ A WALK THROUGH NAANTALI, THE SUNNIEST TOWN IN FINLAND! – Live Now, Dream Later]}}</ref><ref name="sunshine3">[https://www.discoveringfinland.com/southern-finland-archipelago/naantali/ Naantali – Discovering Finland]</ref> The municipality has a population of {{formatnum:
{{Data Finland municipality/population count|Naantali}}}}
({{#time: j F Y|{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}}
}}),<ref name="population_count" /> and is located {{convert|14|km}} west of [[Turku]].

The town has a land area of {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/land area|Naantali}}|km2}}.<ref name="total_area" /> Most of this area is located on the islands, but the majority of the population lives on the mainland{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}}. Most of the islands are covered with forest and farmland, while the mainland consists chiefly of residential areas{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}}.

== History ==
One of the oldest towns in Finland, Naantali was founded around the medieval Brigittine convent ''[[Nådendal Abbey|Vallis gratiae]]'' (or Nådendal Abbey), the church of which still dominates its skyline. The charter was signed by King [[Christopher of Bavaria]], the then ruler of Finland, in 1443. The convent got trading rights and other privileges, and the town around it began to grow. It also became an important destination for [[pilgrimage]].

In the 16th century, as [[Catholicism]] [[reformation in Sweden|gave way]] to [[Protestantism]] as the official religion of [[Sweden]] (which [[Finland]] was part of at the time), the convent was closed, and the town plunged into a depression. This lasted until the mid-18th century, when the town got a [[customs|tollgate]] and a customs chamber. In the two centuries of economic stagnation before that the town had become famous for its knitted [[stockings]], a craft carried on from the times of the convent.

The year 1863 saw the founding of the spa at Cape Kalevanniemi, which raised the town's status as a holiday venue. In 1922, the [[Kultaranta]] estate on [[Luonnonmaa]] was made the official summer residence for the President of the Republic, after Finland had gained its independence five years earlier.

The municipalities of [[Merimasku]], [[Rymättylä]] and [[Velkua]] were consolidated with Naantali on January 1, 2009.

The per capita tax income of the town is the second highest of all towns in Finland, and the highest in the province of [[Southwest Finland]].

==Name==
The name ''Naantali'' is the [[Finnicization|fennicised]] version of the Swedish name of the town, {{lang|sv|Nådendal}}. The Swedish name was given as a direct translation from the [[Latin]] ''Vallis Gratiae'' which literally means "The Valley of Grace".<ref name="latin name">{{cite web|url=http://www.katajala.net/keskiaika/suomi/kaupungit.html |title=Keskiaika - Suomen kaupungit keskiajalla |publisher=Katajala.net |access-date=2013-12-28}}</ref>

== Tourism and points of interest ==
The proximity of both Turku, the region's administrative centre and largest city, and of the [[archipelago]] both contribute to the area's popularity with tourists.

Other points of interest in the city include [[Moomin World]], a theme park on the island of Kailo, and [[Naantali Church|Naantali’s medieval convent stone church]]. The area also includes the official summer residence of the [[President of Finland]], the Kultaranta estate which is located on the island of [[Luonnonmaa]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

The [[Archipelago Sea]] boat traffic is handled by [[S/S Ukkopekka]]. Old [[steamship]] cruise Naantali-[[Turku]]-Naantali.

Naantali hosts an international [[music festival]] every June, and the traditional Sleepyhead Day [[carnival]] in July.


== Culture ==
Every July 27, Naantali celebrates the [[National Sleepy Head Day]] ({{langx|fi|Unikeonpäivä}}; {{langx|sv|Sjusovardagen}}). The old tradition is to throw a chosen "sleepy head", usually a Finnish celebrity, in the sea from the city's port at 8 a.m. The identity of the sleeper is kept secret until the event. People who are chosen have usually done something to the benefit of the city.<ref>[https://metro.co.uk/2018/07/27/people-finland-celebrating-national-sleepy-head-day-awesome-7767706/ People in Finland are celebrating National Sleepy Head Day and it’s awesome - Metro.co.uk]</ref><ref>[https://en.biginfinland.com/unikeonpaiva-sleepys-head-day-finland/ Unikeonpäivä: Sleepy Head Day in Finland - Big in Finland]</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/sleepyhead_day/5289753 Sleepyhead Day - YLE]</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/national_sleepy_head_day_church_organist_doused_in_naantali/7378306 National Sleepy Head Day: Church organist doused in Naantali - YLE]</ref>

== Other industries ==
In addition to tourism, the city's main industries are [[electricity]] production, [[oil refining]], [[manufacturing]], and [[Service Sector|services]]. The [[Port of Naantali]] is the third largest in Finland in terms of goods traffic, and the city is home to a [[power plant]] and an oil refinery owned by the government-controlled company [[Fortum]] and [[Neste]].

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland}}

===Twin towns — Sister cities===
Naantali is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:

* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Vadstena Municipality|Vadstena]], Sweden  
* {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Nordfyn Municipality|Nordfyn]], Denmark  
* {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Svelvik Municipality|Svelvik]], Norway
* {{flagicon|ISL}} [[Vesturbyggð]], Iceland  
* {{flagicon|POL}} [[Puck, Poland|Puck]], Poland  

Previously:
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Kirovsk, Murmansk Oblast|Kirovsk]], Russia

== Notable people ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}
* [[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)

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Naantalin kirkko.jpg|[[Naantali Church]], one of the oldest monuments in Finland
File:Kultaranta 1920.jpg|[[Kultaranta Castle]] residence of the President of Finland, in 1920
File:SS Ukkopekka 1.jpg|Steamship [[S/S Ukkopekka]]
File:Muumimaailma naantali 11.jpeg|[[Moomin World]] is one of the most popular theme parks of [[Northern Europe]].
File:Street in Naantali.jpg|Street view in the summertime.
File:SS Ukkopekka port of Naantali.JPG|Naantali old town and harbour
File:Nådendal, Finland framstäldt i teckningar 7.jpg|Litograph of ''Nådendal'' from mid-19th century, published in [[Finland framstäldt i Teckningar|Finland framstäldt i teckningar]] by [[Zachris Topelius|Zacharias Topelius]].
File:Utsigt af Nådendal från syd-vest - Berndt Lindholm - En resa i Finland - 022.jpg|Steel engraving of ''Nådendal'' from mid-19th century, published in [[En resa i Finland]] by [[Zacharias Topelius]]
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Ekenäs, Finland]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Naantali}}
*{{Wikivoyage-inline}}
*[https://www.naantali.fi/en Town of Naantali] – Official website
*[https://www.naantalispa.fi/ Naantali Spa Hotel]
*[https://www.muumimaailma.fi/ Moomin World]
*[https://www.vg-62.fi/ VG-62]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Naantali
 | N  = [[Taivassalo]], [[Masku]]
 | E  = [[Raisio]]<br/>[[Turku]]
 | S  = [[Pargas]]
 | W  = [[Pargas]]
 | NW = [[Kustavi]]
}}
{{FinlandProper}}
{{Medieval towns of Finland}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Naantali| ]]
[[Category:Turku metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Finland]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in Finland]]
[[Category:Medieval Finnish towns]]
[[Category:Grand Duchy of Finland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1440s]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Baltic Sea]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Southwest Finland]]