- Walking around Riga districts and sights
- What to visit in Old Riga?
- The Dome Cathedral
A long history, many preserved monuments of the past, interesting architecture and excellent location, on both banks of the Daugava and on the coast of the Gulf of Riga, have made the capital of Latvia one of the most attractive places in the Baltics. Tourist groups and individual travelers have no problem what to visit in Riga, the task is different - how to have time to see at least the main sights, to capture them in photos and in memory.
Riga has one characteristic feature - thanks to its ancient architecture, it looks like a toy fairytale town, but on the other hand, the vibrant nightlife, bars and restaurants, nightclubs and other entertainment establishments keep guests and locals alike from getting bored.
Walking around Riga districts and sights
The capital of Latvia is administratively divided into six districts, most tourists choose the Central District - a place where monuments, museums and natural beauty are concentrated. The historical center of Riga is also located here with its zest, the impressive Dome Cathedral, cobbled streets and cozy squares invite to plunge into the Middle Ages. Many tourists choose to walk through the museums or visit the Riga Castle.
Other districts of Riga are not so interesting for travelers, but if time permits, then you need to visit Ziemelsky district, he has prepared for the guests of the city its most picturesque places, such as Lake Kisezers, Mezaparks with many recreational areas and the famous Riga Zoo, interesting, first of all, for children. audience.
The Vidzeme suburb will also be of interest to the guests of Riga, since the expositions of the Latvian Ethnographic Museum are located here. You can see many old museum items, this is the place that you can visit in Riga on your own. Although the excursion will be much more interesting, since the museum staff will accompany them dressed in beautiful national costumes.
What to visit in Old Riga?
The historical center of Riga is not that old, it began to be built at the end of the 19th century, when the city fortifications were demolished. The main point of Old Riga is considered by the locals to be the Statue of Liberty, a bit like the famous American woman, but holding in her hands not a torch that is familiar to everyone, but three stars, which in this case are a symbol of the unity of Latvia.
The architecture of the historical center of the city is ruled by the Art Nouveau style, only here it is called differently - Art Nouveau, forever young, forever young, associated with freedom and space. The most striking example is Albert Street, where all buildings are made in this style, but are absolutely different from each other. Many of them have been declared cultural monuments.
Another place worthy of a tourist's visit is the Latvian National Opera. The facade of the building looks impressive, it is decorated with six Ionic columns and allegorical figures, the classic style has been preserved. In addition to this gorgeous architectural monument, other buildings are located in the center of Riga: Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul; Nativity of Christ Cathedral; Church of St. Gertrude.
The highlight of the historic city center is not large and small architectural forms or monuments of the past, but animals. For a long time, the Riga authorities tried to fight the beavers who were establishing their own order in the center. The salvation was the organization of feeders in the habitats of these amazing animals, and many people always gather to watch the beavers.
The Dome Cathedral
The main attraction of Riga is the Dome Cathedral, the decision to build which was made in 1211, the construction was slightly delayed, so in its architecture you can see a smooth transition from the Romanesque style to the Gothic. True, later the cathedral burned down and was restored only in 1547, then, over the centuries, it underwent several more reconstructions.
Each subsequent architectural style left its traces, strokes. Today the Dome Cathedral is the main visiting card of the city, and its appearance is replicated on souvenirs and in tourist brochures. Of interest is not only the architecture of the temple, but also its internal content.
Inside the cathedral there is an amazing organ, installed during 1883-1884, the facade of a grandiose musical instrument is made in the style of Mannerism, while the main thing is the incomparable sound that arouses admiration among visitors and believers. It is interesting that it was for this organ that great composers of the past created works, including Franz Liszt. In addition to the magnificent organ, the cathedral houses the Museum of the History of Latvia, one of the oldest in the republic, since it was founded in 1773.
