Maaria

Maaria (S:t Marie in Swedish) is a former municipality of Finland in what is now the northern part of the city of Turku.

The area has been inhabited since the Iron Age, and it became an important village in the 15th century with the construction of a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary (hence the district's name).

The municipality of Maaria was founded in 1868, and it included the northern parts of modern Turku south of Paattinen, some enclaves to the north of Paattinen, and the island of Hirvensalo to the south of Turku.

The Maaria Reservoir, which serves as an alternative source of tap water for Turku, was constructed in the area in 1982.

The area that used to be central Maaria is currently divided into the districts of Jäkärlä, Saramäki, Turku Airport and Yli-Maaria.