Your Vacation Reviews

Start your walk at the City Council Square and admire the splendid gothic House of Blackheads. Walk around it and you will bump into St.Peter’s Church, one of the dominant land marks of Riga. From St.Peter’s take Skarnu street, its historical and architectural divercity is quite interesting. The building of whitewashed bricks is the oldest stone building in Riga. It’s the former St.George Church that now houses the Museum of Applied Arts.

Admire the baroque-style altar of St.John’s Church, stained glass windows and statues of John the Baptist and Salome in the altar niches. Enter the St.John’s Yard (Jana Seta) and walk through the small door and go to the small maze of the “Convets’ Yard” (Konventa Seta), which is now a hotel complex.

Now walk though to Kaleju (Blacksmith’s) street, turn right, walk up the small Gleznotaju (Painters) street and turn left to Vagnera street. On your right, the Wagner Concert Hall is situated.

You have now reached the Livu Laukums (Liv Street) from where you can see the merchants’ Guilds on Amatu street founded in Riga after 1221.

The restored building of the Great Guild now houses a concert hall. Just opposite, is the Small Guild, the building of the last century in eclectic English Gothic style. Across from Live laukums, you’ll see a building with two towers on which two cats are perched – the Cat’s House.

Turn left to Skunu street to go in Doma laukums (Dome square), the heart of the Old town where is the massive Dome Cathedral with multiple “face-lifts” over the centuries.

After this walk up to the Pulvera (Gunpowder) Tower, the old fortification system that is still standing. Now it houses the Museum of War.

Turn left to the Torna (Tower) street – Jacob’s Barracks strech along the right side. The barracks are the greatest building in Riga. Now walk through the Swedish Gate, which were “carved though” an already existing dwelling house in 1698.

After you’ve crossed Jekaba street, you will find on you right the Saeima building, the Parliament of Latvia. Just opposite Saeima is the only Riga church with “balcony bell” in cupola – The Jacob’s Church. Walking futher to the one of the Riga symbols – three medieval dwelling houses chistened “Three Brothers”. Continue walking along Maza Pils steet, turn right at the beginning of it and you’ll reach Riga Castle, the residence of latvian President.