Take in an all-night gypsathon in the magical old town of Porvoo

The Romani or Gypsies of Finland, now numbering around 5,500, arrived in the country in the late 16th century. Finnish Gypsies have long suffered prejudice, but in recent years their situation has been improving, and Romani language is now taught in Finnish schools. The traditions of Gypsy costume and music are also vibrantly alive.

Indeed, Porvoo would be a magical setting for any kind of music event. The second-oldest town in Finland (dating from around 1346), its old buildings breathe antiquity. On a clear summer’s day, the old red-ochre wooden storehouses lining the Linnamäki River are infused with a radiant glow. These storehouses, now used as private residences, hark back to the days when Porvoo was one of the biggest trading centres in Scandinavia.

The International Gypsy Music Festival is held over the first weekend in September. The performances start around noon, in the City Hall. Then, as the late hours draw on, all the artists pool their talents in an all-night gypsathon at Levin’s Night-Club, on the banks of the Linnamäki River.