|
|
|
The Paris of the North, it is how local call Riga.
The city lays along the Daugava River, and as all the small cities, the best way of knowing it is loosing yourself in the curving cobbled streets and alleys.
Once you are sufficientely lost amid the tangle of gabled roofs, churches spires and crooked alleyways, you become to uncover a stunning realm of sky-scapring cathedrals, city squares and castel walls.
The gate of the old city coming from central Riga, pass through the Freedom monument.
At the top a copper female Liberty, holding 3 starts, representing 3 original cultural regions of the country, Kurzemene, Vidzemene, Latgale.
Just in front of the monument, going towords the city center, sits the Laima Clock, built in the begininig of '900.
 
Even the tourist info center is located into the Blackhead house, it was built in 1334 as a venue for meetings and banquets held by Riga’s various public organizations. The building was destroyed by bombs in the Second World War but was fully rebuilt.
 
The square is covered by the spire of St Peter's Church.
Riga's skyline centrepiece is this gothic church, rebuilt 3 times.
 
you have a beatiful view of the city and Riga's cathedral
  
One of the landmarks in Riga is sculpture of four animals, a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster standing on each other. It is based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm and represents the Town Musicians of Bremen. This charming piece of art was a gift from Bremen, Riga's twin city, in 1990. The sculpture, which is an exact replica of the one in Bremen City Hall, depicts the four animals from the story.
   
One of the way to enjoy Old Riga is to wander is the small alleys.
  
You are able to spot place like the Cat House. The leged said that the a black cat was placed by a merchat at the top of the roof of his house to seack revenge.
  
The Three Brothers are the oldest stone residential buildings in the city and represent different stages in the architectural development of Riga, from medieval to Baroque. The oldest of the three is N°17 and dates back to the 15th century. The other two were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, respectively.
   
   
The largest church in Baltic country is the Dome Catherdal of Riga.
The architecture is an amalgaman of styles, from the 13th to the 18 th century
   
Sigulda is situated on the banks of the River Gauja, 53km from Riga, and its borders also encompass the historic centres of Turaida and Krimulda. The vicinity of Sigulda is part of the Gauja National Park, so the town is surrounded by woods, while the banks of the River Gauja are dotted with sandy caves.
Turaida Museum Reserve is a cultural landmark with special protection status. The Museum Reserve contains a medieval castle, a church, a manor, the Dainas Hill and the monument to the Rose of Turaida.
 
The largest erosion cave in the Baltic, is carved with graffiti and inscriptions dating back of the 17th century. The spring that flows out of the cave used to be sacred and its water – healing.
  
|
|
.
.
