For residents of the former USSR, Riga has always been a kind of "window to Europe", "Soviet abroad". It was here that all our foreign detectives were usually filmed, as well as films about "their mores". Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Riga has turned into a real abroad, and now in order to visit there, Russians need a passport. But the capital of Latvia is still of great interest to our tourists, and walks in Riga are a dream of many of them.
Riga is an ancient city: 1201 is considered to be the date of its foundation. Therefore, the abundance of historical sights in it looks quite natural. Most of them are located in the old part of the city, the so-called Old Riga.
Historical monuments
Residents of Riga had to very often repel enemy raids, perhaps that is why one of the most popular objects of historical heritage in the city is the Freedom Monument, erected in the city center in 1935. However, there are much more ancient architectural exhibits in Riga, such as:
- The Dome Cathedral is a real symbol of the Old City, in whose appearance a wide variety of architectural styles are intricately intertwined: from Gothic to Classicism. Here is one of the largest organs in the world, the music for which was composed by the great Franz Liszt.
- St. Peter's Church, built in 1209. In the Middle Ages, it was the tallest building in Latvia, but today only a tower is left of the grandiose structure, equipped with several observation platforms, which make it possible to see the city from above.
- Also, the only tower (Powder) has survived from the fortress wall that once surrounded the city. Now it houses a military museum - one of the most interesting in Riga.
- The house of cats is so named because the figures of these pets are installed on the roof of the building. According to legend, their statues once helped the owner of the house to become a member of the merchant's guild.
Of course, these are far from all the architectural masterpieces of the old city, but it would take much more space and time to list them all. Therefore, those interested can be referred to guidebooks and reference books about Riga.
After the excursion
Riga restaurants and cafes offer visitors a wide selection of national dishes, among which the most popular are cold beetroot soup, bread soup and all kinds of fish casseroles. Hot drinks - from beer to vodka - are also mostly local here.
The dream of those who love to go shopping is Gallery Riga shopping center. However, even they do not always have the patience to go around all seven of its floors and get to the topmost, eighth, so that, sitting on the terrace of the bar equipped there, admire the city views from above.
There are many more very interesting monuments and places in Riga to tell about. Still, it is better to see them with your own eyes while walking around the city.
