Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
4.5
11:00 - 18:00
Tuesday
11:00 - 18:00
Wednesday
11:00 - 18:00
Thursday
11:00 - 18:00
Friday
11:00 - 18:00
Saturday
11:00 - 18:00
Sunday
11:00 - 18:00
About
The Best Museum Experience Ever! Aboa Vetus Ars Nova Museum combines history, archaeology and contemporary art with hands-on activities and professional guided tours. It is situated in Southwestern Finland, in Turku. The museum's guided tours introduce you to both the fascinating history of Turku, as well as the intriguing changing art exhibitions. In the summer season tours are included in the entrance fee, but they can also be reserved for groups throughout the year. The museum also provides a cosy cafeteria and a lovely gift shop.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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4.5
300 reviews
Excellent
151
Very good
125
Average
20
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Eva
Finland26 contributions
Jul 2019
This place is a very unique experience. You can join a guided tour, or stroll through the exhibition all by yourself and learn a lot about the people and their lives in the Middle Ages. A real archaeological excavation to be explored! Also, they have modern art exhibitions, a shop with lots of fun items for sale, and the restaurant / cafeteria is worth visiting too.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HubertusM
Tampere, Finland69 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Very nice place to spend time if you are interested in the history of Turku. There is also an exhibition of other artists. When we visited the museum it was an exhibition from Jorma Paranen which I enjoyed very much. I can recommend this place if you are interested in art and history.
Written 23 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elias
Tampere, Finland38 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
This museum is definetly one of the top sights in Turku. The archaeological exhibition was extremely fascinating as we were actually inside an archaeological excavation. The exhibition had all the texts in Finnish, Swedish, and English. There were many interactive parts which really fascinate kids.
We did not visit the modern art exhibition, but we did see a glance of it and it looked like something I would recommend visiting.
We did not visit the modern art exhibition, but we did see a glance of it and it looked like something I would recommend visiting.
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mikael F
Helsinki, Finland31,149 contributions
Nov 2021
This Museum of Archaeology and Contemporary Art is located right by River Aura.
You can experience the underground authentic ruins and medieval streets. On our visit, there was a funny dollhouse with mice called Mouseum. Also, there was an exhibition called Luutarha (Bony Tales) showing the bones of different animals.
On the upper floors are changing art exhibitions. On our visit, it was the exhibition 'Osmo Rauhala - Remember to forget everything'. The themes of the works include for example DNA and evolution. The exhibition was quite small and not so interesting.
You can experience the underground authentic ruins and medieval streets. On our visit, there was a funny dollhouse with mice called Mouseum. Also, there was an exhibition called Luutarha (Bony Tales) showing the bones of different animals.
On the upper floors are changing art exhibitions. On our visit, it was the exhibition 'Osmo Rauhala - Remember to forget everything'. The themes of the works include for example DNA and evolution. The exhibition was quite small and not so interesting.
Written 21 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
saronic
Zurich, Switzerland28,710 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
This very worthwhile museum to visit near the river Aura combines two very different themes: Modern Art (Ars Nova) with mostly temporary exhibitions of a high standand and excavations from Turku's medieval times in Finland's only Archaeological Museum. It is all very well presented with information given in Finnish, Swedish and English. A gift shop and a café are to be found here as well.
Just after the entrance one is greeted by one of Niki de Saint Phalle's 'Nana's' ( for me just as at home, in Zurich's railway station). But already here one will also find a first part of the ruins from medieval Turku (Aboa Vetus - old Abo, as the town is called in Swedish). Apparently the remains of these buildings were found underground with the construction of a Modern Art Museum by the former villa (early 20th century) of the tobacco merchant Hans von Rettig.
The mostly underground stroll through the archaeological part gives plenty of short, concise information in Finnish, Swedish and English on medieval Turku, especially also about the daily life then. The temporary art exhibitions are to be found in the rooms of the villa.
Just after the entrance one is greeted by one of Niki de Saint Phalle's 'Nana's' ( for me just as at home, in Zurich's railway station). But already here one will also find a first part of the ruins from medieval Turku (Aboa Vetus - old Abo, as the town is called in Swedish). Apparently the remains of these buildings were found underground with the construction of a Modern Art Museum by the former villa (early 20th century) of the tobacco merchant Hans von Rettig.
The mostly underground stroll through the archaeological part gives plenty of short, concise information in Finnish, Swedish and English on medieval Turku, especially also about the daily life then. The temporary art exhibitions are to be found in the rooms of the villa.
Written 9 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Knitter8
London, UK109 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
This museum shows the medieval streets below. With boards explaining the history in Finnish and English. It was interesting. The artefacts they have found were interesting too. Took us about an hour and a half. There is an art section too
Written 12 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julia_sv2013
Hawalli, Kuwait23 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
We have really enjoyed the archeological excavation part, you can walk down the old Viking street with fascinating cellar walls around you. All signs are in Finnish, Swedish and English. Lots of activities along the way for kids, our favorite was “young archeologists game” and bone research kids explanatory program.
The part of modern art museum impressed us with Finnish VJ and illustrator exhibition. Lots of work could be touched which made kids enjoy.
Unfortunately the building of museum itself can not be seen - it is a mansion with English garden, that you can only see from the window of 2nd floor, may it is reserved for private events only.
Must see if you are in Turku.
The part of modern art museum impressed us with Finnish VJ and illustrator exhibition. Lots of work could be touched which made kids enjoy.
Unfortunately the building of museum itself can not be seen - it is a mansion with English garden, that you can only see from the window of 2nd floor, may it is reserved for private events only.
Must see if you are in Turku.
Written 13 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
klauscanth
Kauniainen, Finland62 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
It is an interesting concept: to host a museum UNDER the ground with ruins of the medieval Turku as the framework.
So well organised, so many different viewpoints offered and makes me wish the whole of Turku was dug out the same fashion. Nice and cool down there, too..after the heat in the street it was a welcome.
One minor gripe, though: the gift shop had a selection of books none of which had the price on them. The offering was not quite...er, local either but, hey, you sell what people buy, I guess.
Recommendable.
So well organised, so many different viewpoints offered and makes me wish the whole of Turku was dug out the same fashion. Nice and cool down there, too..after the heat in the street it was a welcome.
One minor gripe, though: the gift shop had a selection of books none of which had the price on them. The offering was not quite...er, local either but, hey, you sell what people buy, I guess.
Recommendable.
Written 24 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack M
Saint Paul, MN22 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
The basement is an archeological dig/museum and the upper floor is a contemporary art museum. The art museum was a good size for a quick visit but the basement stole the show for me. It showcases three brick/stone medieval residences with displays exhibiting artifacts from the era told from the viewpoint of a ten year old Finnish boy from that era. Extremely interesting plus a very good gift shop and a very good cafe/coffee shop.
Written 27 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracy Metz
Amsterdam, The Netherlands76 contributions
Jul 2019
The archeology is very well presented with an engaging and accessible story. And the strong work of contemporary artist Saara Ekström was a real discovery!
Written 29 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Onnistuuko Ars Nova näyttelyihin tutustuminen pyörätuolilla liikkuen? Onko inva-wc? Entä inva-pysäköinti?
Written 16 February 2018
Ars Nova yläkerran modernintaiteen näyttelyyn pääsee hyvin pyörätuolilla. Alakerran museoon vain osittain. Auton saa viereiselle kadulle ainakin, muttei ihan eteen. Jos saa kyydin, voi auto jättää ihan ovelle. Ramppi ulkoa sisälle. Inva wc on.
Written 16 February 2018
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