Vilnius – the city in the north of Europe
Summer is a great occassion to travel and discover new places. One of them is definitely Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania. This article will provide the essential information on the city and its sights.
When you think about Vilnius, you should think about the words that can describe the city. Although it is the capital of Lithuania, it is also called ‘Small Rome’ because the city is located on seven hills. There are also situated numerous baroque churches and a legend about the founding of the city is as interesting as the legend of Rome. Vilnius is also a city of different architectural styles. There you will find Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism, Eclecticism as well as Modernism styles. It is a place that will be appreciate by every architect who wants to learn more about those styles in real. Another nickname of Vilnius is the university city. It is a home for one of the oldest universities in Eastern and Northern Europe. What is more, Vilnius is also a city of notable poets who lived, studied and composed there. Some of them are Adam Mickiewicz, Juliusz Słowacki and Czesław Miłosz.
The different architectural styles are the results of the history of the city. Nowadays, Vilnius is a multinational city. Vilnius is a home for different people including 60% of Lithuanians, 25% of Poles, 10% of Russians and other nationalities. Before the Second World War, more than half of the residents of Vilnius were Poles. Later, the different nations started to live in the city, for example Russians, Swedes, Germans and French making the city a fascinating place to visit.
What to visit in Vinius
When you arrive in the city, it is worth to start sightseeing from the real landmark of the city – the Gothic tower of the Upper Castle. It can be seen almost from every corner of the capital of Lithuania. The holidaymakers should reach the top of the tower. Three roads lead to the top of the mountain. The first and the longest goes from the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, the second is much shorter and it starts at the Wilejce River. However, the easiest way to reach the top is to use the lift.
At the top of the mountain, apart from the tower there are remains of the walls and the Gothic palace. The best landscape of the city is obtainable from the hill and the tower. On the left side, there are located the Old Town and the Trzykrzyska Mountain, on the right are situated the Villa and the modern city centre of the Lithuanian capital.
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