Riga – the Pearl of the Baltic
Riga, the capital of Latvia, the middle of the three Baltic states, with over 600,000 inhabitants is the largest city in the Baltic region. Situated where the Daugava River flows into the Baltic Sea, Riga was a centre of Viking trade in the early Middle Ages and later a member of the Hanseatic League. Today Riga is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Latvia. by Helen Cleary
Vecrīga, the square-kilometre old town on the lower reaches of the Daugava River, with its many medieval houses and Art Nouveau villas, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. The Cathedral has towered above the old town since 1211 and is one of the oldest sacred buildings in the Baltic States. It combines elements of Romanticism, early Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau. Nowadays, cultural events take place here as well as church services. The organ, built at the end of the 19th century, is one of the largest and best in the world. From the viewing platform of the 72-metre-high tower of St. Peter‘s Church, you have an amazing panoramic view of the city. Riga Castle, built in 1330 as a fortress for the Order of the Brothers of the Sword, is now the official residence of the President of the Republic.
The centre of the old town is the market square with the town hall and the magnificent Schwarzhäupterhaus which served as a meeting place for the Blackhead merchants‘ association from 1477. Right in the middle of the city is the granite and copper-clad Freedom Monument (42.7 meters high). The National Art Museum houses the most important collection of Latvian art history spanning two centuries. Since 1912, Mezaparks has been home to the Zoological Garden with its tropical house and underwater world.
Other historical monuments include the Museum of History and Navigation, the parliament building in the style of a Florentine palace (1867), the last free-standing Powder Tower of the 28 towers of the former city fortifications dating from 1650, Riga Stock Exchange (1852), the Convent Courtyard dating back to the 13th century, the Three Brothers‘ ensemble of buildings built between the 15th and 17th centuries, the Swedish Gate, and the Small and Large Guilds.
More than 200 performances take place at the Latvian National Opera each season. Riga is in fact known for its lively and diverse nightlife. The “white nights“ over the summer solstice on June 23 and 24 are celebrated in style. According to Latvian mythology, sleeping on June 23 would bring bad luck.