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Riga skyline, including from left to right, the Riga TV Tower, Riga Academy of Sciences, and the Orthodox Church
Freedom Monument
Latvia Academy of Art
Bastion Hill Park
Bastion Hill Park Canal
Typical street scene
St. Peter's Church
Although I’ve placed pictures of Riga on previous posts, it occurred to me that I’ve never posted a whole set. This is from a brief trip I took in the summer of 2010. Latvia is one of three Baltic states that gained independence from the Soviet Union in the early 90s, the others being Estonia and Lithuania. Riga, Latvia’s Capital, is the largest city of the three countries. Founded in 1201, this former Hanseatic League member borders the Baltic Sea’s Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava River.
The first picture was taken from my hotel’s observation deck. The second is of the 42 meter tall Freedom Statue, which honors soldiers killed in the 1918-1920 War of Independence. The figure you see above the trees sits atop a tall obelisk.
The city is a unique blend of architectural styles as evidenced by picture three. The Art Academy was established in 1921 and offers a variety of art curricula at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Pictures four and five are of the ornately landscaped Bastion Hill Park, the centerpiece of which is a meandering canal that runs from, and back to, the Daugava River. Five people were killed in the park in 1991 when Soviet Special Forces launched a last-ditch effort to stifle Latvian independence. Today it’s a model of peacefulness, and you wouldn’t know to look at these pictures that it sits in the center of a fairly bustling metropolis.
Pictures six and seven are in the old town district. Saint Peter’s Church has a lengthy and varied history that began as early as 1209.
What I’ve posted is a very small sample. Riga is one of the most interesting places I’ve had the chance to tour since I’ve been here. The Latvian people are some of the friendliest I’ve met, and the city itself has a mellow, laid back quality to it. If you ever get the opportunity to tour Europe, don’t neglect this little gem.
