Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, founded in 1323, which is considered to be one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Europe. It is a calm, flat city, where, thanks to the narrow medieval streets, small squares, and a host of ancient buildings, a particularly unique atmosphere of antiquity reigns. The history of Vilnius is so multifaceted and eventful that most of its architectural monuments have been repeatedly updated and reconstructed. That is why the city combines features of different epochs - Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, classics, thus attracting tourists and just lovers of shopping in Europe from all over the world. In addition to a huge number of ancient sights, in Vilnius there are miniature museums, galleries, author's shops, as well as many interesting monuments of contemporary art.
What to see in Vilnius?
Cathedral of the Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Vladislav
It is the main cathedral of Vilnius, erected in the beginning of the 13th century by the Lithuanian king Mindaugas. There is a Cathedral in the center of Vilnius on the cathedral square and in its style is similar to the classical temples of Ancient Greece. In 1922, the cathedral was given the status of Basilica and since then it rightfully belongs to the highest category of temples. Throughout the centuries, the Cathedral has experienced many fires, wars and rebuildings, so several architectural trends reflected in its architecture - Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Inside the cathedral you can find sculptures of Polish kings and Lithuanian princes, tombstones, a large number of magnificent paintings, as well as gloomy dungeons with burials of important historical persons.
Gedimin's Tower (Gediminas Tower)
It is an ancient symbol of the city and the entire Lithuanian state, which is located behind the Cathedral on Castle Hill. According to the history, the city of Vilnius was founded by the Grand Duke Gediminas after he had a prophetic dream on this place. By order of the prince on the hill, the first castle with beautiful towers was erected, and then more and more new buildings began to appear, and a glorious city arose. Unfortunately, until now only one tower and ruins of the Vilnius castle have been preserved. Today in the Gedemin's Tower is the Lithuanian National Museum, which will fully acquaint you with the history of the ancient city.
Church of St. Anne
This is one of the most beautiful buildings in Vilnius, made in the late Gothic style. An interesting fact is that in its construction were used bricks of 33 profiles, which allowed masters to play with texture and create unique patterns. The church has reached our days almost unchanged and today continues to amaze tourists with an unprecedented number of ornate tombs. St. Anna's Church is considered to be the visiting card of the city of Vilnius.
Sharp Bram or Sharp Gate
In ancient times, the city was surrounded by a fortress wall, and this gate is the only one of the 10 gates of that wall, preserved to the present day. Above the gate is a magnificent chapel, the interior of which is executed in the style of neoclassicism. There is a belief that the icons here protect the city from enemies and bless the people who leave it. It is in this chapel that the famous icon of the Virgin Mary is kept, which attracts many Catholics from all over the world.
This is not all the interesting places in Vilnius. In fact, in this wonderful city there are a lot of attractions that you want to admire again and again. So do not even doubt, Vilnius will impress you with its incredible atmosphere and will remain in your memory for a long time.
However, do not forget that Lithuania is not on the list of countries with a visa-free visa for either Russian citizens or Ukrainian citizens .