Hello, friends, travelers, and community! Wherever you are in the world, I hope you are doing well and enjoying time with your loved ones.
In my last post, I shared a brief overview of the Riga Old Town, which was just a casual walk in the evening. Without any information, we strolled around and only later figured out what we had seen. However, our real tour began the next day with a guided walking tour.
There were so many things to explore during the daytime! We started our day early, and after breakfast, we headed to St. Peter's Church to join the guided walking tour group at 10 o'clock, which we had booked before leaving Norway. It was a windy and cloudy day. The tour included St. Peter's Church, Dome Square, the Parliament Building, the Latvian Old Church, and some streets connecting to different parts of Europe.
Our first stop was St. Peter's Church. The guide was friendly and experienced, explaining many details that we had not found online. Old Riga is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and St. Peter's Church is a significant part of it. This architectural site has a fascinating history. The guide mentioned that the church's construction has faced many challenges over the years. Built from bricks, work began in the 12th century, but through the centuries the church suffered damage from wars, natural disasters, and fires. Most recently it was renovated in the 20th century. After several incidents, a metal frame was used for the tower, and rather than climbing steps, an elevator was installed to take visitors up 57 meters. Now, it is a central tourist attraction in Riga, with an entry fee of 9 euros, which includes access to the church and tower. In the courtyard, we saw the Bremen Musicians statue, and the guide explained the story behind it.
After a brief history of the church, we headed towards "Baker Street". This charming street served as the setting for the Soviet Union’s filming their version of Sherlock Holmes.
Dutch style Church in this street the dutch community residences and more dutch influences.
As we walked through the narrow, picturesque streets, it felt like we were in a fairy tale.
When we passed through Livu Square,this sculpture attracted my attention in one corner of the park.there were many more in the center surrounded with bars, cafes, and restaurants, creating a relaxed atmosphere. When we walked through this area the previous evening, it seemed like a fantastic place for nighttime entertainment, with venues offering live music and cultural activities.
Next, we entered City Hall Square, where we saw the House of the Blackheads, a statue of a dog, and a replica of the Roland statue, which represents freedom and justice. The House of Blackheads was especially attractive in the daylight, despite the cloudy weather. It has a significant history, primarily serving to promote trade.
We continued to the Parliament House, also known as the Livonian Noble Corporation building, and St. James Cathedral, directly opposite, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Dome Square is surrounded by several notable buildings, including the Riga Dome Cathedral, the Riga Bourse House (now an art museum), the Ministry of Finance and the Latvian Radio building . The square wasn't originally this size, it was created by taking down several houses to make an open place in order to arrange political, cultural and social events for all.
And last, this house with the cats on the roof has one legendary story. But this building looks very funny with those cat's positions.
Somethings that weren't of interest to me I haven't mentioned here. But I was very impressed with those architectural buildings those have connections with Latvian history culture and art, especially the many in art nouveau style.I admire the workmanship involved in making this town beautiful and well preserved.
Thank you for now see you soon. this post created by me according to information I gather during my travel.
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