Panorama of Baltic States

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, to depart for an idyllic location, where we will visit the palaces of Rundale, one of the most beautiful in Europe, which impresses with unnecessary lines and a rich interior, in a rococo style, the work of famous artist Rastrelli. Then we will depart for the city of Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania. We will walk through the old town, where we will see the Gothic church of Vytautas, next to the river Nemunas, the old town hall, the main pedestrian street with its wonderful buildings and the cathedral, the Gothic church of Agios Georgios, but also the ruins of the medieval castle . Then we will visit the center of the modern city, where all economic and social life is concentrated. We will walk along the pedestrian street – one of the largest in Europe – and see Eleftheria Square. Time for lunch and walks in the historic center and immediately after that we will continue to the last stop of the day, Vilnius. Early afternoon arrival in the city, to make a short familiarization visit before checking into our hotel. In the evening we suggest you join us for a walk in the historic center.

After a rich breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for the neighboring city of Trakai, the first capital of Lithuania, a city literally built on water, surrounded by 200 lakes and 21 small islands. The year of its foundation is considered to be 1337, where it is first mentioned by the Masonic Knights. Another important feature of Trakai is its multiculturalism as, in addition to Lithuanians, Russians, Tatars, Poles and Jews have lived here for centuries. The three medieval castles located in the wider area have been linked to many legends and traditions of the region. The one located on the islet of Lake Galve, from the 15th century, is considered more important. Walking over a wooden bridge you reach the castle gate (free entrance). It has a large courtyard in which some reenact executions and duels and display some instruments of torture. There are various exhibits from different periods in special rooms.

Then we will return to Vilnius to complete the acquaintance with the city, which is built at the confluence of the Vilnele and Neris rivers. Like most medieval towns, this one developed around the Renaissance-style town hall. We will walk along the main pedestrian street, Pilies Street, to reach the first, historical university of Vilnius with the official name ¨V. Kaptsukas University¨, built in 1579. Then we will visit the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, pass through the Gate of Dawn with the unique wooden carving of the Virgin Mary and we will end up in the Ouzoupis district on the other side of the river. You will be impressed by the church of the Apostles Peter and Paul as well as the church of Agia Anna, while you will be fascinated by the green environment that surrounds the city. Free time until we depart for the airport and our flight to Tallinn. Arrival in the capital of Estonia and check-in at the hotel.

Rich breakfast at the hotel and today we will spend our day in the famous 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 also see the ruins of the monastery of Pirita, dedicated to Saint Virginia. Then we will 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 and consists of a central building and two more 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. Then free time in the historic center to taste local flavors and wine in one of the many restaurants of the old town and enjoy romantic walks in its beautiful alleys. Return to the hotel for some rest. In the evening we suggest you to visit, accompanied by our leader, the Old Town Square of Tallinn – the Town Hall Square. For centuries, the square was the location of the city’s main market. It is now surrounded by restaurants, cafes and shops. The most important building in the square is the 13th century Town Hall, which also happens to be the oldest town hall in Northern Europe.

We have a good breakfast at the hotel and depart for Tartu, the oldest city in Estonia, where we will see the university, the oldest in Northern Europe. We will walk to 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, a well-preserved example of 19th century architecture. 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 and in the evening walk through the historical center and the old town to get a first taste of the capital of Latvia.

Last day of our trip but since the return flight is late we have the whole day at our disposal. After breakfast we prepare for a beautiful city tour. The old town of Riga is one of the best preserved on our continent. Built at the mouth of the Daugava River, it offers endless options for nature walks and its unique historic center. There we will also see the yellow house of the cat, a building that has developed its reputation so much that the city can now be considered something like the capital of the cat. 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 in the central square. The trademark is the house of the Blackheads, which dominates the south side. Red bricks, statues and gold inscriptions on a blue background make up a 14th century masterpiece. 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, the pedestrian streets and the colorful historical buildings that create such a special atmosphere. Behind Agios Petros we will visit the church of Agios Ioannis 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. 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 the amazing historic center. In the early afternoon, we will close our tour with a walk in the newest part of the city, where we will admire works of the great Mikhail Eisenstein and visit the museum with cars – antique Riga Motor Museum. At this point if you wish join us optionally on a nearby excursion to Jūrmala – the largest resort in the Baltic. It is an area 32 km long and 3 km wide, with wonderful white sand beaches, between the Gulf of Riga, the Baltic Sea and the Lielupe River. In this city full of luxurious residences, with a strong cosmopolitan character, the senior officials of the Soviet governments enjoyed their vacations. In the late afternoon we will depart for Riga airport and the direct return flight with Air Baltic.