{"id":5575,"date":"2020-04-24T18:45:58","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T18:45:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mircorp.com\/?p=5575"},"modified":"2021-04-22T20:18:05","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T20:18:05","slug":"riches-of-riga-experience-latvias-capital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/riches-of-riga-experience-latvias-capital\/","title":{"rendered":"The Riches of Riga: 8 Ways to Experience Latvia\u2019s Capital of Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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An aerial view of Riga\u2019s Old Town Square. Photo credit: Latvia Tourism<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Riga, the cosmopolitan capital and heart of Latvia<\/a>, has long been one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the Baltics<\/a>. Situated at an important crossroads between Estonia<\/a> and Lithuania<\/a>, the city was for centuries a strategic chess piece for several great European empires including Poland<\/a>, Sweden, Germany, and Russia<\/a> \u2013 all of whom left their mark on Riga\u2019s overall look and cultural feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damage from both world wars and neglect during its Soviet period threatened to throw the city into utter obscurity. But today after nearly three decades of independence and extensive restoration work in its historic core, Riga has once again reclaimed its title as a flourishing center of the arts, architecture, and nightlife.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, and for good reason \u2014 it has one of the best preserved medieval town centers you can find, and has been recognized as having the largest collection of art nouveau buildings in Europe.<\/strong> Aside from the astonishing architectural gems, travelers will find a lively metropolis full of world-class museums, chic restaurants, a stellar music and modern art scene, and sunny squares and gardens humming with the sounds of locals, street performers, and tourists.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Here are some of our favorite ways to discover the best of this booming Baltic capital:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1. Explore the Cobbled Streets of the Old Town<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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With charming cobblestone streets, chic cafes, colorful medieval and Gothic architecture, the UNESCO-listed Old Town center of Riga \u2014 known as the Vecriga \u2014 is a delightful way to introduce yourself to the history and cultural significance of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great place to start is Doma Laukums, or Cathedral Square, where you\u2019ll find Riga\u2019s enormous Dome Cathedral, which was founded in 1211. Blending Romanesque and Gothic architectural features, this grand medieval church houses one of Europe\u2019s largest and most valuable organs, made from a remarkable 6,768 pipes.<\/p>\n\n\n

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