Easter in the Baltic Countries

Meeting on May 2, early in the morning at Macedonia Airport, checking in and flying to the capital of Latvia, the famous Riga. Arrival at 06:30 in the morning and boarding the bus and without wasting time we leave for the capital of Estonia, where we will start getting to know Tallinn.

During the tour, we will walk to Toompea hill, where we will see the old castle with the highest tower in the city, the baroque palace (today’s parliament) and the excellently preserved churches of the 13th century, while we will also enjoy the unique view of the old and modern city, the harbor and the bay of Tallinn. The old town – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – consists of two levels and has exceptionally well-preserved medieval walls and towers. The unique medieval town hall dominates the market square, as well as the oldest pharmacy in Europe. We will walk through the Kadriorg Park, dedicated to Tsarina Catherine, with its wonderful flowers and swan lake, and visit the adjacent museum of European painting, formerly the summer palace of Peter the Great. We will see the ruins of the monastery of Pirita, dedicated to Saint Virginia. Immediately after settling in our hotel rooms, for rest.
In the evening we suggest you to visit the Old Town Square of Tallinn – City Hall Square, accompanied by an escort. For centuries, the square was the main market place. It is now surrounded by restaurants, cafes and shops. The most important building in the square is the 13th century City Hall, which also happens to be the oldest in Northern Europe. Taste local flavors and wine in one of the many restaurants of the old town and enjoy romantic walks in its beautiful alleys.

Today is at your disposal for walking around the city and exploring its beautiful spots. If you wish, you can join us on a one-day optional cruise to Helsinki, the impressive capital of Finland, the world’s first in coffee consumption and reindeer meat!

The ferry ride on the Baltic Sea and the destination, Helsinki, are wonderful. Its trademark is the Lutheran Cathedral. Imposing, with a characteristic green color on the domes, it impresses with its size and simplicity. On our tour we will see the National Museum of Finland Kansallimuseo, the busy Narinkka square and the wooden Kamppi temple, which impresses us with its special architecture. Another special temple is the Temppeliaukio Church, which is actually built inside an imposing and mysterious rock. Other points of interest include the Helsinki Ferris Wheel, the Natural History Museum, the Helsinki History Museum, the city’s Railway Station, the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, the Ateneum National Art Museum, the Sibelius Monument and the Parliament.

We will find ourselves in the old covered market of Helsinki, where we can buy local products and enjoy the special and unknown Finnish cuisine. The leading role is played by fish, specifically salmon, which is cooked and marinated in many imaginative ways. A particularly positive aspect of this market is that, despite the fact that it is located in the center of the city, it is a spot preferred by local residents for their daily outing or food. Very close to the market is the port with ferry boats, from where you can, if you wish, take a short ride (15 min) to the gray Baltic Sea and the Suomenlinna fortress located on one of the numerous islands around the city of Helsinki. The fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was built when Finland was still part of Sweden and was called Sveaborg. Its current name, Suomenlinna, means fortress of the Finns. But apart from the fortress, on the island we also find a church, which was built in 1854 as an Eastern Orthodox church for the Russian soldiers who were stationed on the island. But the most interesting thing is that the dome of the church also functions as a lighthouse. Having captured these special images, we will return to Tallinn in the afternoon. For the evening we suggest you to visit with our leader escort, one of the most beautiful locations in the Old Town of Tallinn, which are hidden between the main historical streets. The beautiful Masters’ Courtyard is accessed from Vene Street via a small footpath. The courtyard is home to several artisans and the beloved Chocolaterie cafe. Walking a few steps further along Vene Street, you will reach the historic passage of Saint Catherine. This small street has perfectly preserved its medieval atmosphere and can make you feel like you have traveled back in time.

We have a good breakfast at the hotel and depart to visit the Kadriorg Palace which was built by Tsar Peter I for his wife Katerina. Its name in Estonian and German means the valley of Katerina. The palace, which was completed in 1725, was built on the model of Italian villas, designed by an Italian architect with a central building and two side buildings, being one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in the whole of Northern Europe. Since Estonia’s independence, Kadriorg Palace has housed the Tallinn Ethnographic Museum, and it still functions as the Art Museum of Estonia. In its large collection there are over 900 paintings by Western European and Russian painters from the 16th to the 20th century, sculptures and precious stones. Also of interest are the wonderful gardens in front of the palace on an area of about 1000 acres with flowers and two facing lakes. Immediately afterwards we will depart for Tartu, the oldest city in Estonia, where we will see its university, which is the oldest in Northern Europe. We will also walk through the oldest part of the city, where we will visit the restored church of Agios Ioannis with the unique terracotta statuettes. Next we will see the Dom Hill, a romantic park with the Angel and Devil Bridges, the ruins of the 13th century cathedral, the largest in the Baltic countries, as well as the Town Hall Square, which is a well-preserved example of 19th century architecture century. During our day today we will also stop at one of the most beautiful cities in Latvia, Sigulda, a city of sports, parks, legends and history. We will visit one of the most impressive castles in Latvia, Turaida Castle. Its name means “Garden of God” and it was built in 1214 as the residence of the Archbishop of Riga, on the site of an earlier wooden castle. In the centuries that followed, the castle was conquered by Poles, Swedes and Russians, while after the fire of 1776 it was destroyed and deserted. From the second half of the 20th century, its gradual restoration began. Today it is the most visited castle in the country. After our visit we will continue to Riga, arriving in the late afternoon. Check in at the hotel. Overnight.

We have a good breakfast at the hotel and get ready for a beautiful city tour. The old town of Riga is one of the best preserved on our continent. Built on the mouth of the Daugava River in the Baltic, Riga offers endless options for nature walks and tours and its unique historic center. There we will also see the yellow cat house, a building that has developed its reputation so much that the city can now be considered something of a cat capital! Up high we will see two cat statues on the roof! Figures of the lovable pet are everywhere and Riga has now associated its name with him. We will continue with the Old Town which is the heart of Riga and is overwhelmed by architectural ornaments that you will hardly forget. We will enjoy the changes of style, atmosphere and colors found in an explosive combination in the capital of Latvia. Its majestic character is largely due to the Hanseatic League, of which Riga was a member. We will admire the most impressive buildings of the city of the central square. The trademark is the house of the Blackheads, which dominates its southern side. Red bricks, statues and gold inscriptions on a blue background make up a 14th century masterpiece. It was the meeting place of the Brotherhood of the Blackheads and today it is the official residence of the President of the country. We will then visit behind the square towards the river side a Soviet military monument of two granite hoplites which gives a good taste of Soviet realism. The surrounding buildings in the square, such as the Polytechnic and the City Hall complete a feast of colors and architectural forms. We will also admire the medieval church of St. Peter, which offers a wonderful architectural spectacle as well as a panoramic view of Riga, the river and the Baltic Sea from its bell tower, which reaches a height of 130 meters. From there, you will see the winding streets, pedestrian streets and colorful historical buildings that create such a special atmosphere. Behind St. Peter we will visit the church of St. John and shop for traditional dolls, Baltic amber jewelry and other accessories at the tasteful stalls set up on the pedestrian street. Quaint shops, Latvian bakeries and restaurants operate in beautiful historical buildings of the city and invite you to visit them without a second thought! We will then follow tirgoņu iela to visit the other important town square, which is home to the impressive 13th century Lutheran cathedral (built in 1211). It is the largest medieval temple in the Baltic and dominates the urban landscape of the city. Very close by is the Gunpowder Tower, the only surviving cylindrical tower of the 18 that stood in the city, built in the 14th century. Today it houses the Latvian War Museum. We will end up at Esplanāde Park, on the edge of the historic center, to see the Latvian Freedom Monument (Milda). Free time to enjoy the local cuisine and walk around the historic center. In the early afternoon, we will close our day with an optional walk to the newer part of the city, where we will admire works by the great Mikhail Eisenstein and visit the Riga Motor Museum.

After a rich breakfast, we leave to visit an idyllic location, the Rudale palaces, one of the most beautiful in Europe, which impresses with their unnecessary lines and rich interior in Rococo style, the work of the famous artist Rastrelli. Then we will depart for Jurmala – the largest resort of the Baltic. It is an area 32 km long and 3 km wide, with wonderful white sand beaches, between the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea and the Lielupe River. In this cosmopolitan city full of luxurious residences, the senior officials of the Soviet governments enjoyed their holidays. We will be impressed by the organized tourist facilities of the city, we will enjoy coffee and lunch and in the late afternoon we will depart for Riga airport and the direct return flight.