Riga
This morning we approached Riga, capital of newly independent Latvia, and one of the best-preserved mediaeval cities in Europe. Today 40 per cent of Latvia’s 2.7 million inhabitants live in Riga. Riga is beautifully situated on the River Daugava and our berth in the city center was the perfect location for our morning’s exploration. The city is currently celebrating its octocentenniel, having been founded 800 years ago this month in August 1201 by Hanseatic traders from Germany. We began with an impressive organ recital in the Dome cathedral (Lutheran) and this was followed by a walking tour of Vecriga, as the old town is known in Latvian. After enough free time to purchase the local amber jewelry, a bus tour afforded us the opportunity to appreciate the unique skyline of an ensemble of architecture that has achieved UNESCO World Heritage status, notable for its concentration of buildings in the Art Nouveau style. This month Riga is enjoying its status as European Cultural Capital as so many freshly refurbished buildings testify. This status will doubtless give the city greater publicity. Certainly many of our guests were surprised and delighted by their visit and keen to return again.
This morning we approached Riga, capital of newly independent Latvia, and one of the best-preserved mediaeval cities in Europe. Today 40 per cent of Latvia’s 2.7 million inhabitants live in Riga. Riga is beautifully situated on the River Daugava and our berth in the city center was the perfect location for our morning’s exploration. The city is currently celebrating its octocentenniel, having been founded 800 years ago this month in August 1201 by Hanseatic traders from Germany. We began with an impressive organ recital in the Dome cathedral (Lutheran) and this was followed by a walking tour of Vecriga, as the old town is known in Latvian. After enough free time to purchase the local amber jewelry, a bus tour afforded us the opportunity to appreciate the unique skyline of an ensemble of architecture that has achieved UNESCO World Heritage status, notable for its concentration of buildings in the Art Nouveau style. This month Riga is enjoying its status as European Cultural Capital as so many freshly refurbished buildings testify. This status will doubtless give the city greater publicity. Certainly many of our guests were surprised and delighted by their visit and keen to return again.
