Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Updated October 31, 2025

## Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova, Turku — archaeology and contemporary art under one roof

Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova is a combined archaeology and contemporary art museum in central Turku. The venue covers two distinct experiences: Aboa Vetus (“Old Turku”), an underground archaeological area with authentic medieval ruins, and Ars Nova, a program of rotating contemporary art shows and a permanent collection. The museum’s official address is Itäinen Rantakatu 4–6, 20700 Turku, Finland. Vetus Ars Nova

### What you’ll see in Aboa Vetus (the archaeology museum)

– Authentic medieval town quarter: Visitors walk through a ruin area that includes the remains of medieval houses and streets from historic Turku. The museum notes that the Convent Riverfront, one of medieval Turku’s main streets, runs through the site. Vetus Ars Nova
– Only archaeological museum in Finland: Aboa Vetus identifies itself as the country’s only archaeological museum. Vetus Ars Nova

These points make Aboa Vetus unusually tangible for understanding medieval Turku, “old town Turku,” and local urban archaeology—keywords travelers often search when comparing Turku museums. Vetus Ars Nova

### What you’ll see in Ars Nova (the art museum)

– Contemporary art focus: Ars Nova presents temporary exhibitions and works from the museum’s own collection, which spans from the late 19th century with an emphasis on post-1950s art to today. Vetus Ars Nova
– Home in the Rettig Palace: The art museum occupies parts of the Rettig Palace (Villa von Rettig), completed in 1928. The palace, designed by architect Valter Jung (Jung Architects Office), was built as a private residence and later adapted for museum use. Vetus Ars Nova
– Museum established in 1995: The palace premises have housed Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova since 1995. Vetus Ars Nova

Together, the two wings deliver a concise Turku timeline—medieval ruins below and contemporary art above—a pairing that’s relatively rare even among Finland museums. Vetus Ars Nova

### Practical planning (hours, tickets, contact)

– Opening hours: The museum lists Tue–Sun 11:00–18:00; closed Mondays.
– Tickets: The site lists 20 € / 14 €.
– Address: Itäinen Rantakatu 4–6, 20700 Turku, Finland.
– Contact: +358 207 181 640, [email protected].
All figures above come directly from the museum’s pages. Always re-check just before your visit, as details can change. Vetus Ars Nova

#### Guided tours
The museum offers guided tours: about 1 hour for either Aboa Vetus or Ars Nova; about 1.5 hours if you book both. If you book a tour for one section, you can visit the other within opening hours. Vetus Ars Nova

#### Café and museum shop
– Restaurant Brunndeli operates on site (the museum publishes hours on its website). Vetus Ars Nova
– Museum Shop: The museum states that its shop can be visited without entering the exhibitions (no ticket needed). Vetus Ars Nova

### Accessibility & inclusivity notes (time-sensitive)

– The museum’s accessibility page currently states: “Due to the ongoing renovation of the restaurant space and lobby, wheelchair access to our museum’s exhibitions is not available at the moment.” The same page explains that uneven, cobbled floors are part of the historical ruin area. These conditions affect mobility-aid users and visitors who prefer smoother surfaces. Verify the latest status before arrival. Vetus Ars Nova

(The museum has previously noted that roughly a third of the Aboa Vetus area is accessible with an electric wheelchair, but the current renovation notice supersedes that for exhibition access. Always check the live accessibility page for the most accurate, current guidance.) Vetus Ars Nova

### Current and recent exhibitions (subject to change)

Exhibitions rotate. As published by the museum, Ars Nova scheduled an exhibition change in Sept–Oct 2025, with new shows opening 10 Oct 2025 (e.g., Umppa Niinivaara: Cave (10.10.2025–22.3.2026) and Matti Rag Paananen (10.10.2025–22.3.2026)). For dates beyond these, consult the museum’s Exhibitions page. Vetus Ars Nova

### Why this museum is useful for understanding Turku

– It connects place, archaeology, and art: the ruin quarter under today’s city center puts you face-to-face with medieval urban fabric. Vetus Ars Nova
– The Rettig Palace context adds architectural interest from the interwar period (1928). Vetus Ars Nova
– The collection and exhibitions at Ars Nova keep the visit current, complementing the deep-time story told underground. Vetus Ars Nova

### Key facts at a glance

– Type: Archaeology + Contemporary Art museum. Vetus Ars Nova
– Location: Itäinen Rantakatu 4–6, 20700 Turku (city center). Vetus Ars Nova
– Building: Rettig Palace, completed 1928. Vetus Ars Nova
– Opened as a museum: 1995. Vetus Ars Nova
– Hours (listed): Tue–Sun 11:00–18:00. Vetus Ars Nova
– Tickets (listed): 20 € / 14 €. Vetus Ars Nova
– Contact: +358 207 181 640, [email protected]. Vetus Ars Nova
– Accessibility note (current): wheelchair access to exhibitions temporarily unavailable due to renovation. Vetus Ars Nova

—

### Time-sensitive items to double-check before you go
These change periodically and are best verified on the museum’s site right before your visit:
– Opening hours & ticket prices (the museum currently lists Tue–Sun 11–18; 20 € / 14 €). Vetus Ars Nova
– Accessibility status (temporary renovation is affecting wheelchair access to exhibitions). Vetus Ars Nova
– Which exhibitions are on (Ars Nova rotates shows). Vetus Ars Nova

All details above come from the museum’s official website and pages directly linked from it; information is current as of October 29, 2025. Always re-confirm on the official pages for the latest updates. Vetus Ars Nova

Key Highlights

Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

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Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova, Turku — archaeology and contemporary art under one roof

Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova is a combined archaeology and contemporary art museum in central Turku. The venue covers two distinct experiences: Aboa Vetus (“Old Turku”), an underground archaeological area with authentic medieval ruins, and Ars Nova, a program of rotating contemporary art shows and a permanent collection. The museum’s official address is Itäinen Rantakatu 4–6, 20700 Turku, Finland. oai_citation:0‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

What you’ll see in Aboa Vetus (the archaeology museum)

• Authentic medieval town quarter: Visitors walk through a ruin area that includes the remains of medieval houses and streets from historic Turku. The museum notes that the Convent Riverfront, one of medieval Turku’s main streets, runs through the site. oai_citation:1‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Only archaeological museum in Finland: Aboa Vetus identifies itself as the country’s only archaeological museum. oai_citation:2‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

These points make Aboa Vetus unusually tangible for understanding medieval Turku, “old town Turku,” and local urban archaeology—keywords travelers often search when comparing Turku museums. oai_citation:3‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

What you’ll see in Ars Nova (the art museum)

• Contemporary art focus: Ars Nova presents temporary exhibitions and works from the museum’s own collection, which spans from the late 19th century with an emphasis on post-1950s art to today. oai_citation:4‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Home in the Rettig Palace: The art museum occupies parts of the Rettig Palace (Villa von Rettig), completed in 1928. The palace, designed by architect Valter Jung (Jung Architects Office), was built as a private residence and later adapted for museum use. oai_citation:5‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Museum established in 1995: The palace premises have housed Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova since 1995. oai_citation:6‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Together, the two wings deliver a concise Turku timeline—medieval ruins below and contemporary art above—a pairing that’s relatively rare even among Finland museums. oai_citation:7‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Practical planning (hours, tickets, contact)

• Opening hours: The museum lists Tue–Sun 11:00–18:00; closed Mondays.
• Tickets: The site lists 20 € / 14 €.
• Address: Itäinen Rantakatu 4–6, 20700 Turku, Finland.
• Contact: +358 207 181 640, [email protected].
  All figures above come directly from the museum’s pages. Always re-check just before your visit, as details can change. oai_citation:8‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Guided tours

The museum offers guided tours: about 1 hour for either Aboa Vetus or Ars Nova; about 1.5 hours if you book both. If you book a tour for one section, you can visit the other within opening hours. oai_citation:9‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Café and museum shop

• Restaurant Brunndeli operates on site (the museum publishes hours on its website). oai_citation:10‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Museum Shop: The museum states that its shop can be visited without entering the exhibitions (no ticket needed). oai_citation:11‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Accessibility & inclusivity notes (time-sensitive)

• The museum’s accessibility page currently states: “Due to the ongoing renovation of the restaurant space and lobby, wheelchair access to our museum’s exhibitions is not available at the moment.” The same page explains that uneven, cobbled floors are part of the historical ruin area. These conditions affect mobility-aid users and visitors who prefer smoother surfaces. Verify the latest status before arrival. oai_citation:12‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

(The museum has previously noted that roughly a third of the Aboa Vetus area is accessible with an electric wheelchair, but the current renovation notice supersedes that for exhibition access. Always check the live accessibility page for the most accurate, current guidance.) oai_citation:13‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Current and recent exhibitions (subject to change)

Exhibitions rotate. As published by the museum, Ars Nova scheduled an exhibition change in Sept–Oct 2025, with new shows opening 10 Oct 2025 (e.g., Umppa Niinivaara: Cave (10.10.2025–22.3.2026) and Matti Rag Paananen (10.10.2025–22.3.2026)). For dates beyond these, consult the museum’s Exhibitions page. oai_citation:14‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Why this museum is useful for understanding Turku

• It connects place, archaeology, and art: the ruin quarter under today’s city center puts you face-to-face with medieval urban fabric. oai_citation:15‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• The Rettig Palace context adds architectural interest from the interwar period (1928). oai_citation:16‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• The collection and exhibitions at Ars Nova keep the visit current, complementing the deep-time story told underground. oai_citation:17‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Key facts at a glance

• Type: Archaeology + Contemporary Art museum. oai_citation:18‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Location: Itäinen Rantakatu 4–6, 20700 Turku (city center). oai_citation:19‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Building: Rettig Palace, completed 1928. oai_citation:20‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Opened as a museum: 1995. oai_citation:21‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Hours (listed): Tue–Sun 11:00–18:00. oai_citation:22‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Tickets (listed): 20 € / 14 €. oai_citation:23‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Contact: +358 207 181 640, [email protected]. oai_citation:24‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
• Accessibility note (current): wheelchair access to exhibitions temporarily unavailable due to renovation. oai_citation:25‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

Time-sensitive items to double-check before you go

These change periodically and are best verified on the museum’s site right before your visit:
– Opening hours & ticket prices (the museum currently lists Tue–Sun 11–18; 20 € / 14 €). oai_citation:26‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
– Accessibility status (temporary renovation is affecting wheelchair access to exhibitions). oai_citation:27‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova
– Which exhibitions are on (Ars Nova rotates shows). oai_citation:28‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova

All details above come from the museum’s official website and pages directly linked from it; information is current as of October 29, 2025. Always re-confirm on the official pages for the latest updates. oai_citation:29‡Aboa Vetus Ars Nova