Day 2 in Vilnius
A tour to Old Vilnius!
Most of Vilnius’s tourist attractions are found in the Old Town which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. Moreover, Vilnius’s Old Town is one of the largest medieval towns that still exist in Central Europe, including 70 streets and 1487 buildings.
The center of the open-air museum called ‘Old Town of Vilnius’ is the Cathedral Square, where Vilnius’s Cathedral is located. All great Lithuanian rulers were crowned in this church. The most beautiful part of the Cathedral is considered the St. Casimir Chapel, decorated by the Italian architect and sculptor Constantino Tencalla. The church bell tower is built separately from the main construction and has four levels, each of them belonging to different architectural styles: from Gothic at the lowest level to classicism at the top.
After inspecting the area, you can find on the Square a tile with the inscription ‘Stebuklas’, which means ‘miracle’. Make a wish while standing on it, and then turn around three times. They say that the wish will come true!
Walk along the Pilies Street, that connects the Cathedral Square with the Town Hall. This is one of the oldest streets in Vilnius and is one of the favorite places for both locals and city’s guests. All year around, a cheerful bazaar functions, where you can buy everything what Lithuania is famous for: amber jewelry, leather goods, and wooden souvenirs. Along the sidewalks there are cafe tables, and nearby artists paint and sell paintings with views of Old Vilnius.
On your way to the Town Hall, you will see the Gate of Dawn – one of the most important religious, historical and cultural monuments. This was part of a defensive fortification of Vilnius, being the only gate from a number of nine that still exists. Other ones were destroyed by the order of the government at the end of the XVIIIth century. The Chapel of the Gate contains an icon of The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy, said to have miraculous powers.
The next destination is the Vilnius University. This is the oldest university in Eastern Europe. As well, it is interesting that this was the only university in Lithuania for a long time. The university complex has been built during several centuries, that’s why today you can see almost all architectural styles here: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism form a unique eclectic ensemble. The 13 courtyards are named after famous teachers and students. You can visit the campus on an excursion ticket.
Finally, we reach the Town Hall Square. It is worthy of our attention because the Town Hall building experienced in its lifetime many things: it was repeatedly constructed “from scratch”, served as an art museum and even as a theater, which couldn’t not affect its appearance. This time, Gothic and Renaissance styles gave way to Classicism. At the same time, the interior of the Town Hall is even richer than the exterior! This is the place where important meetings and events are held nowadays.
