Things to Do in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania

Things to Do in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, also known as Vilna, has a history somewhat convulsive. also known as Vilna Lithuania also known as Vilna, with World War II time, Nazi invasion and a period of socialism with the Soviet Union, but nowadays everything is different, a country open to tourism, is part of the European Union, and with many different attractions in Europe “more known”.

Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Vilnius It was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and reached its peak in the sixteenth century thanks to King Sigismund II of Poland. A city open to commerce and culture, received Polish, Jews, Ukrainian, Russian and German, among others. This variety of nationalities contributed a great economic and cultural wealth, until conquered by the Russians, which meant looting, massacres and depopulation.

Vilnius returned to Poland and the third partition of Poland in the century 18, he returned to Russia. The city was invaded by Moscow path to Napoleon. Invaded by the Germans in World War I, after that, It fell into the hands of the Bolsheviks. In 1920 It proclaimed the independence of Lithuania and Vilnius proclaimed its annexation to Poland, which caused a rupture of relations between Poland and the rest of Lithuania.

Vilnius has grown thanks to the Jewish and Polish investment, becoming the fifth Polish city in economic importance and number of Jewish inhabitants.

The difference between Vilnius and the rest of Lithuania was so great that started the protests nationwide. The Lithuanian government decided to agree with the Red Army, that invaded the region, forcing Vilnius to attach to Lithuania. The Red Army broke the pact and finally invaded the entire Lithuania.

The Nazis in Lithuania

Eager to get to Moscow, the Nazis invaded Lithuania, with the Germans in the country starting deportations and murder of thousands of Jews. The security police of Lithuania and other sectors fascists and anti-Semites joined the SS and its settlement work, they considered to blame Jews for the economic growth of Vilnius and the impoverishment of the rest of the country. Instead, another part of the population did his best to save them from massacre. Estima-se that 70.000 Jews were killed just in the city of Vilnius and Vilnius.

Independence of Lithuania

After the Second World War, Poles were repatriated to Poland and it was not until 1991, when it was proclaimed the independence of Lithuania.

It is important to know some of the history of Vilnius, to understand the cultural mix, religious and artistic that you see in the city, they live in harmony Orthodox, Catholic, atheist and the few remaining Jews, in addition to being a city of craftsmen, artists and bohemians.

This social and cultural wealth makes Vilnius a beautiful and charming city! Vilnius is a city to return again.

After telling a little about the history of the city and the country, it's time to talk a little about our experience, We stayed in town for Vilnius 2 days and 2 nights, an ideal time to explore the city without delving too, we went on the easter holiday, taking advantage of the harsh winter in the region, besides Vilnius we did a road trip through Lithuania, Latvia e Estonia stopping in several cities, Vilnius was the first and also the last city, also known as Vilna RentCars, We rolled over 2.000 Km and almost 10 days.

We arrived in the city from Barcelona, Vilnius was the first and also the last city, Vilnius was the first and also the last city, Vilnius was the first and also the last city (Vilnius was the first and also the last city) Vilnius was the first and also the last city, Vilnius was the first and also the last city, a great place to stay, Vilnius was the first and also the last city, only use the car, to get to the airport and to go to other cities, Vilnius was the first and also the last city.

as we speak, Vilnius was the first and also the last city, that day we arrived early and back in the day to go also took the city.

Vilnius is a city with a small old town, don't expect a medieval town, but it has a surprising beauty and another very important and great factor is that the Baltic countries are very cheap, on this trip we ate almost every day at nice restaurants, no McDonald's, lunch and dinner was very cheap mainly in Lithuania and Latvia, in Estonia, in its capital Tallinn is no longer so cheap, but even so it is much cheaper than traditional European countries, and talking about food, besides being cheap, it's very good and comes with a lot of food., in the inner cities of the countries still eat much better.

Things to Do in Vilnius (wool), the capital of Lithuania, and what are its main attractions?

As I said, the city does not have as many tourist attractions as Madrid, Barcelona, Roma, London O Paris, So 2 days is a good time, we stayed other days in other cities in the interior of the country like Trakai, Kaunas, Siauliai e Panevezys we all visit and some we sleep too, one that you missed and that is on the coast is Klaipėda.

Vilnius Cathedral

As our hotel was on the city center side, our first stop was to visit the Vilnius Cathedral, or known as the Arquicatedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Ladislaus in Vilnius, a very imposing and all white monument with a beautiful tower in front of the cathedral.

Vilnius Cathedral is located in the old part of the city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A spiritual place in Lithuania and is dedicated to Stanislaus and St. Ladislaus Szczepanów, with a chapel dedicated to St. Casimir. This chapel is visited by many pilgrims who come from all over the country and from neighboring countries..

Cathedral in the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was crowned the. In its crypts and catacombs are buried many famous people of the country, como Vytautas, the big, his wife Ana, his brother Sigismund I Kęstutaitis, sua prima Švitrigaila, St. Casimir, Alexander I Jagiello, Isabel de Habsburg e Albert Goštautas.

In the cathedral for over forty works of art (fresh and paintings) dated between the sixteenth and nineteenth, the visit is free. During Cathedral restoration works, He discovered what is believed to be the altar and the original floor of a pagan temple built in the king's baptism of time Mindaugas, apart from the rest of other cathedral, built in 1387. A fresh dating from the fourteenth century, the oldest in Lithuania, It was discovered on the wall of one of the underground chapels.

Monument to Grand Duke Gediminas

In the same square or park where the Cathedral is also the statue of the Grand Duke of Lithuania, a very important person in the country and to this day the Lithuanian euro coins have the same design of this hero.

Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania

Both the palace and the museum don't have much to see inside., we only know the building outside which is very beautiful.

National Museum of Lithuania

Also next to the Cathedral the museum has many works on the beautiful history of Lithuania and the city of Vilnius itself.

Torre Gediminas

A Torre Gediminas It is a tower lookout located at the top of the homonymous hill overlooking the city, originally part of a castle that has disappeared and have some ruins today. Inside has a small archaeological museum. The first fortifications known at this site were constructed in wood for Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania.

The first brick castle was completed in 1409, during the time of Grand Duke Vytautas. this construction, some remains that have been recently restored are preserved, on the day we visited even some parts were under restoration.

The first tower was built in the thirteenth century and had a higher floor. Its walls were damaged during the Russian occupation between 1655 e 1661. In 1930, It has been restored to house a museum. The tower is considered a symbol of Vilnius and country. He appeared in the Lithuanian national currency before the arrival of the euro. It is also mentioned in many songs and poems.

The Vilnius Castle Museum was opened in 1960. In 1968, It became a subdivision of National Museum of Lithuania (which is at the foot of the hill). also known as Vilna, weapons and iconographic material of the old city.

The view from the tower of the city is very beautiful, an attraction mandatory Vilnius.

Bernardine park

A beautiful park in the city center next to all the other tourist attractions mentioned above, take a stroll through the park and take a break from the walk on one of its scattered benches.

Church of Santa Ana

St. Anne's Church one of the few Gothic-style churches in Lithuania because Christianity took a while to arrive in the country, made of brick. The first reference of the present church, is at 1396, It was probably a wooden temple, dedicated to Santa Ana, mother of the Virgin, Ana patron, the first wife of Vytautas the Great, It is designed for use by German Catholics and other visitors, this temple was destroyed by fire in 1419. The current church was built from brick on the initiative of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander I of 1495 e 1500 and it was consecrated in 1501. The exterior of the church has remained virtually unchanged since then.

Roman Catholic Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Bernardino)

Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church was first built by Bernardine monks who built a wooden church in the second half of the 15th century and at the end of the same century – a brick. In the times of Soviet occupation, it was closed and handed over to the art institute. In 1994, the brothers of San Francisco returned to church. According to legend, the Bernardine monks used to tell sermons so good that the crowd came to hear. That is why the church is so great.

Cachapuri (Restaurante Georgio)

After walking enough by the City of Vilnius, it was time to stop for lunch and on the way between Vilnuis tourist attractions, we found a kiosk that sold Georgian food, and try the Cachapuri or Khachapuri, a type of pizza dough with cheese, and an egg on top, very good, until another day we looked for a restaurant in Barcelona to eat this dish again, besides good as we speak, food in this country is very cheap. Restaurant is in the Konstantinas Sirvydas Square, next to a beautiful fountain.

Republic of Užupis

A Republic of Uzupis it is actually a small neighborhood of Vilnius that considers itself independent, as if it were another country, to have laws which are in one of the streets, this Republic to anyone who has been or heard of Cristiania in Copenhagen, which is also considered a country, only in Cristiania it is much bigger, it's very different, Uzupis is a bohemian neighborhood and only, but it is very cool to walk through the streets with many bars and restaurants, He became very famous and attracts plenty of tourists.

Anjo de Užupis

The symbol of Užupis Republic and the Angel of Užupis, a beautiful angel statue, the main street “country”.

Constitution of the Republic of Užupis

As we speak Uzupis have a constitution, here you can see the laws of this unique tourist attraction in Vilnuis.

Street of comics (Literary g. 7)

A rua Literatų g. 7, It is very famous in the city for being a picture gallery in the open, beautiful place, beyond the comic has bars and restaurants on this street.

Church of St. Casimir

Construction of the church began in 1604 [1] in memory of the holy Prince St. Casimir. It was built by the Jesuits with the Grand Duchy of Chancellor Lew Sapieha financing of Lithuania. S

Door or Gate of Dawn Aurora

also known as Vilna, historical and cultural.

Church of Santa Teresa

The Church of Santa Teresa is a Roman Catholic church in the old town of Vilnius, near the Gate of Dawn. It was completed in 1650.

Church of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Rusio

A small and beautiful Russian Orthodox church, from the time the country was part of the Soviet Union.

Defensive wall of Vilnius

Strong in Renaissance style characterized by its original construction. It consists of a tower and city wall of defense, underground weapons areas, It's on top of a hill overlooking the city.

street party in Vilnius Open Kitchen

The Open Kitchen Vilnuis is a park near the Defender Wall of Vilnuis, there are several popular street parties, when we were in town there was a really cool food and drink event happening at the place, which we took the opportunity to know a little more of the country's food, we stayed there enjoying the late afternoon and the heat drinking a beer and resting our leg after traveling around the city.

The next morning before going to Trakai, we were in the TV tower, that is away from the center, then we drove, since then we were going to hit the road. The Vilnius TV Tower is yet another symbol of the socialist era that the country lived through., just like the Berlin TV Tower, broadcast government propaganda.

On the last day of travel before returning the car and after having driven around Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, We returned to the city and spent a late afternoon and evening on Gedimino Street, that on weekends it is closed to cars, there has many restaurants and bars, great place for happy hour, lunch and dinner.

These were our tips on what to do in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.