- Rīga –
a. The Gothic spires that dominate Rīga’s cityscape might suggest austerity, but it is the flamboyant art nouveau that forms the flesh and the spirit of this vibrant cosmopolitan city,
b. hip bars, modern art centres and the cool experimental restaurants.
c. Standing next to a gulf named after itself,
d. gorgeous sea dunes and blueberry-filled forests begin right outside the city boundaries.
e. more than 800 years of history,
f. It boasts a truly lovely old quarter, full of magnificent Jugendstil architecture, winding cobblestoned lanes and many steeples.
g. it is a modern, metropolitan city with a vibrant nightlife and a strong economic impulse,
h. To get a sense of the city, wander through its large, manicured parks, stroll through the historic quarter and then kick back in one of the many cafés or outdoor terraces
i. Alberta Iela
i. this must-see Rīga sight is a rather functional street with residential houses, restaurants and shops. Art nouveau, otherwise known as Jugendstil, is the style
j. Blackheads House –
i. Built in 1344 as a veritable fraternity house for the Blackheads guild of unmarried German merchants
ii. the original house was bombed in 1941 and flattened by the Soviets seven years later. Somehow the original blueprints survived and an exact replica of this fantastically ornate structure was completed in 2001 for Rīga’s 800th birthday.
k. Art Museum Rīga Bourse –
i. Rīga’s lavishly restored stock exchange building is a worthy showcase for the city’s art treasures.
ii. The elaborate facade features a coterie of deities that dance between the windows, while inside, gilt chandeliers sparkle from ornately moulded ceilings
l. Rīga Central Market –
m. Rīga Cathedral –
i. Founded in 1211 as the seat of the Rīga diocese, this enormous (once Catholic, now Evangelical Lutheran) cathedral is the largest medieval church in the Baltic
