Mar 12th, 2017, 03:00 PM

Riga, Your New Travel Destination.

By Jane Simsone
Image Credit: Flickr/Elly Malcon
Ditch the cliché travel cities and head to the underrated capital of Latvia.

While standing in Domu Square, you can't help but marvel at the warm shine, radiating from the copper dome of the Domu Cathedral. The square is surrounded by variety and color in architecture and culture, the opposite of what some might assume of an ex-Soviet and Nazi occupied country. Although the history reflects hardships and Latvia only gained its independence in 1991 - the city is like a phoenix as roosters here replace the crosses on the many church spires that rise from the Riga skyline. They symbolize the banishment of evil spirits, night and call for the day - and now you are called to come visit. In Latvia, the sun sets around midnight during the summer.

Image Credit: Wikipedia/Diego Delso

If you visit Riga on June 23rd or 24th, you'll have the opportunity of experiencing the famous Latvian midsummers' festivals Ligo and Jani (pronounced Lee-goa and Jah-nih). Jani is a celebration on the longest day of the year, and the shortest night. The event is a national celebration of nature, and culture. Grandparents, adults, and young children weave laurels, dance, and sing the old Latvian folk songs celebrating the sun, the wind and of course, beer. It is also the night when, according to tradition, you are not allowed to sleep until the sun rises again, otherwise you'll have difficulty waking up for the rest of the year. Which means that an all night party is guaranteed, and if you ask any Latvian what their favorite holiday is, they would say this is it. Imagine a Game of Thrones style event where instead of suspense and schemes, everyone is cheerful and celebratory. The whole country is drenched in festivity, and in the very same Domu Square, you can take part of the festivity by attending all of the free concerts and events thrown all over the city. The Domu Square stands as a place where history can be revisited and felt, during the midsummer festival, it hosts traditional markets, dances and concerts.

Image Credit: Flickr/Maurice

As professional violinists play music outside St. Peter's Church, berries and chanterelles are sold by elderly ladies from traveling wooden sales carts, freshly picked from the country side. Just by walking through the little cobblestone streets of Riga, you'll stumble upon amber jewels, rune embellished jewelry, hand-knitted clothing bearing ancient Latvian symbols, and inexpensive ice cream cones made with real cream from the countryside. In fact, all of Old Town Riga is a protected under UNESCO. This is the part of Riga which during the Middle Ages, was near a mighty port where merchants gave life to the town. Its prosperity can be seen thorough all of the old and restored houses. One such example is the House of the Blackheads, which was commissioned in the 14th century by the Brotherhood of Blackheads, an association of the richest and unmarried German merchants. Ironically, it was bombed by the Germans in 1941, and rebuilt in the 90s. Legend has it that it was this brotherhood that erected the first public Christmas tree, which is displayed on a plaque outside the building. Over 500 years ago, they were known for their twice-yearly holiday celebrations, it was said that they put a fir tree outside in the square. Festooning it with paper flowers, sang, danced, and cheered the season, and then lit the whole thing on fire. Needless to say, beer and wine were involved. 

Image Credit: Flickr/Bryan Ledgard

Towards the central train station lies one of the biggest markets in Europe, the Riga Central Market. Opened in 1930, it was recognized as the largest, the best and the most advanced marketplace in Europe (not to brag), it is the very heart of Riga. A lively, diverse, personal shopping experience where the vendors gladly tell tales and offer exuberant bargains. The market is architecturally imposing as these food pavilions are reused old zeppelin hangars that had been left in the South West of Latvia after the First World War. A great testimony of engineers, the facade remains in the Art-Deco style and the pavilions house over 3,000 trade stands. Take it from me, a local, the central market is the belly of the town. However, the market is not only made of these grand structures, there is also a massive outdoor trading area, as well as the many brick warehouses that date back to the 1800s within the Riga Central market. If you're there, you might as well check out the area of Spiķeri nearby, an area of the market that is now one of the most creative parts of the city. The Dirty Deal Teatro is a place where the new filmmakers, choreographer, playwrights, and other new artists give the audience an original theater experience, they constantly seek for new ways of how to perceive theater, so go visit even if out of curiosity. Spiķeri is also home to the contemporary arts center "kim?" which stand for the Latvian acronym of "What is art?", the center organizes contemporary art exhibitions, performances, lectures and movie screenings.

Image credit: Flickr/JudyJack1960

Daugava is the name of the river that flows through Riga, on the other side of town, also referred to as Pārdaugava, you can see the brand new National Library, also referred to as the Castle of Light or the Glass Mountain. Designed by the internationally acclaimed Latvian-born architect, Gunnārs Birkerts, it was the greatest cultural project of the 21st century in Latvia. The Glass Mountain is also famous for its shape, Birkerts explained that it serves as a metaphor for independence as a sunken castle of light that rises from the dark depths. The poet Mikus Krogzemis (aka Auseklis) introduced this metaphor in 1873, and it was then put to music by Jāzeps Vītols in 1889. The resulting choral song Gaismas Pils (Castle of Light) is almost now a national anthem, and its performance in 1985 was credited for stirring the reawakening of Latvia. Near the library is the quarter of Kalnciems in the Riga area of Āgenskalns. The area is made up of old wooden houses dating back to the 19th century and the quarter is famous among the locals for housing artisanal and craft markets, concerts, and cultural events. This is the perfect place for you to come and drink fruit wine as stalls around you sell everything from pottery to varieties of honey every Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00, and mind you this place is considered to be a cultural hub by the local, this is truly not a tourist trap.

Image Credit: LIBER Europe

Crossing one of the bridges back to the center, you must head to the part of Riga which holds the largest collection of Art Nouveau architecture in the world. Riga has a total of over 800 Art Nouveau buildings, but the majority are around Elizabeth, Albert, and Strēlnieku street in the embassy area, also known as the Quiet Area or Klusais Rajons. On Riga's boulevards, the streets come to life as the buildings seduce, scream, and snarl. In Riga it is the human face and form that stares out from each street and corner, posed in expression as if they are about to say something. Wandering around the block, the Museum of Riga Art Nouveau is a good place to begin your Art Nouveau pilgrimage. The entrance stand in the grab building on Alberta iela 12, iela is the Latvian for "street" and flows elegantly off the tongue. The museum lies on the ground floor beneath a decadent staircase that spirals up into the turret that punctuates the top of the building. Here, inside the creation by Konstantīns Pēkšēns and Eižens Laube, daily life in fin de siècle Riga reveals itself in ornately decorated rooms, where each detail is curated to follow the ebb and flow of local art nouveau.

Image Credit: Flickr/Jean-Pierre Dalbera

In the center of the Riga there are four major parks: Vērmanes, Kronvalda, Esplanāde and Bastejkalns. Kronvalda park is the nearest to the Quiet Area where in 1883, the architect Georgs Kūfalts began a project in the park whereby 2,000 rosebushes were planted, blossoming in flower beds and rose gardens scenting the city. Heading towards Bastejkalns, the Latvian Freedom Monument stands nearby. Underneath it, people are laying flowers and soldiers proudly protect it. The monument is a collection of 56 sculptures arranged in 13 groups on four levels, the main statue is that of a green woman holding three stars, symbolizing the three historic Latvian provinces on top of a 42-meter stone pillar at the end of a broad street. A symbol of freedom, it is the Latvian Statue of Liberty. Now feel free to continue exploring Riga, and bask in its unique history as you visit the jewel of the north.

Image Credit: Flickr/Diego Delso

While you're at it, here's a list of hotels, restaurants, and cafes for you to explore on the internet for the time being as you plan your next visit:

Top Hotels in Riga:

Top Restaurants in Riga:

Top Cafes in Riga: