Visit Vilnius, Lithuania

Add to My List Check Off

Vilnius, Lithuania is located on the banks of the Neris River and serves as the capital of Lithuania. This Baltic city that was previously part of the Soviet Union is home to a little more than one-half million inhabitants and is quite cosmopolitan with nearly half its population claiming ancestry other than Lithuanian. The city has a well preserved medieval section, referred to as Old Town with buildings dating to the 13th century. Cathedral Square and Old Town Square are the focal point for tourists. Visitors come to Vilnius to appreciate its architecture and visit its historically significant sites and monuments. The sites of interest to visitors include The Presidential Palace, Gediminas Castle (the top of the tower offers the best view in Vilnius), Three Crosses Hill with its monument honoring the torture of seven Franciscan monks, Vilnius Cathedral for its Baroque styled chapel of St. Casimir and catacombs, St. Anne’s Church (a favorite of Napoleon) displaying memorable gothic architecture, the Angel of Uzupis Statue, the sculpture works inside St. Peter’s and Paul’s Church. Among the museums, parks and other historic sites are counted the KGB Museum (the Museum of Genocide Victims) in the former KGB headquarters, The National Museum of Lithuania, European Park exhibits sculptures from artists representing more than 70 countries, the Contemporary Art Center and Literatu Street, lined with artwork and writings by those deemed important to the history of Lithuania. The Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theatre stages multiple performances each week in its beautiful old building while one of the most modern theatres in Europe, the Oskaras Korsunovas Theatre, named for a famous Lithuanian director, presents cutting edge theatrical productions. Consider visiting a progressive city previously part of the old Soviet Union that has done an excellent job of preserving its medieval roots by adding a trip to Vilnius, Lithuania to your list. Start planning how to make this trip a dream come true.

Write a Review

No Ratings Yet

Flag as inappropriate ›