The brickwork and gilded cupolas make this neo-Byzantine Russian Orthodox Cathedral one of Riga’s most beautiful buildings and, unlike other churches in the City, while it has had a number of uses, it has not been rebuilt numerous times. That said, compared to the City’s medieval Christian churches this is a mere youngster of a building. Continue reading “Nativity of Christ Orthodox Cathedral”
I came across this rather grand bronze statue when making my way back to the Old City from the must visit Corner House (former KGB Building).
Prince Michael Barclay de Tolly (1761-1818) was a Russian Field Marshal (in command of the 1st Army of the West, the largest of the Russian armies facing Napoleon) and Minister of War during Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812 and during later campaigns of the Russian army in Europe. Continue reading “Prince Michael Barclay de Tolly”
While the infamous Corner House (on the corner of Brivibas iela and Stabu iela – Lenin and Friedrich Engels Streets in Soviet times) ceased to be a place of terror and repression when Latvia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 it was with some trepidation that I entered through the door on the corner of the building and picked up my ‘access pass’ from a counter just inside the entry. Continue reading “The Corner House – Former KGB Building”
Located outside the City walls, this church is named after the early Middle Ages saint – St. Gertrude (626-659) – one of a number of patron saints of travellers. Continue reading “St Gertrude’s Old Church”
In various others of my Riga reviews I have referred to, or drawn the reader’s attention to, examples of Art Nouveau in the Old City and, to a letter degree, in the Moscow District. Nice as those are, no visit to Riga would be complete without a visit to the heart of Art Nouveau in in the city, the area to the northeast of Kronvalda Park and in particular Elizabetes iela and Alberta iela – though do not limit your exploring to just those two streets. Continue reading “Art Nouveau in Riga”
As you make your way to or from Elizabetes iela and streets around it to admire Riga’s beautiful Art Nouveau buildings, as you must, make sure you at least visit the northern part of Kronvalda Park for a look at this rather unusual memorial, located, rather poignantly and deliberately, in front of the former Communist Party Central Committee building. Continue reading “Memorial in the Wall – Separating and Uniting”
Having established that this intricately carved monument, tucked away in the north western part of Kronvalda Park, is of medieval ruler, scientist, mathematician, and astronomer Mīrzā Muhammad Tāraghay bin Shāhrukh (1394-1449), better known as Ulugh Beg, from Central Asia I got to wondering what links he had with Riga to be honoured here. Continue reading “Ulugh Beg Monument”
The distinctly neo-classical building that is now the Latvian National Opera and home to the Latvian National Opera and Ballet was designed by St Petersburg architect Ludwig Bohnstedt and built in 1863 as the Riga German Theatre, a German language theatre. A Russian language theatre, the Latvian National Theatre opened in 1902. At this time Latvia was part of the Russian Empire and German traders predominated in the business and financial life of the city, hence the need for Russian and German theatres. Continue reading “Latvian National Opera”
Moving across from the Freedom Monument towards the Latvian National Opera I was attracted by this graceful brushed aluminium figure by the canal. It is a very modern and eye-catching sculpture of Maris-Rudolf Eduardovich Liepa, a Latvian ballet dancer whom I had never heard of. Continue reading “Maris Liepa Monument”
The first decade or so of the 20th century was a very prosperous period for Riga. It was a major trading and manufacturing hub and the third largest city in the Russian Empire, of which is was part at the time. Continue reading “An Englishman in Riga”
The Rambling Wombat 