Riga – this is not only the capital of Latvia, the largest city in the country and largest port.

It is also a place where an excellent opportunity to plunge into the cozy atmosphere of old times and enjoy the magnificent monuments of architecture. Riga appeared on the site of ancient settlement Liv, where the Ridzene flowed into the Daugava river. From the river Ridzene city got its name. Like the city itself, Riga was first mentioned in the chronicle of Henry of Latvia in 1201 when the German knights built a trading settlement on the site of a factory. Originating at the junction of sea and land routes, the city in the late 18th century enjoyed the monopoly rights of Russian trade intermediary for the Western Dvina.

On the right bank of the Daugava River is the oldest core of Riga – Old Town that has retained a network of narrow medieval streets.

Most architectural monuments and landmarks are concentrated in the old town. Narrow crooked streets bordered by low houses with old lanterns in portals and still preserved multistory warehouses with red tile roofed gabled roofs and hanging from the walls by ropes hoisting winches. This is a monument to 18th century architecture. Some streets remained as narrow as it was in the Middle Ages, when it was used only pedestrians but the riders. In the old town are concentrated numerous architectural monuments, including the magnificent Roman-Gothic Dome Church (13th century) and “Three Brothers” 15-16 century. In the Dome you can hear the magnificent organ,  the largest in Europe. Among other monuments worth mentioning Gothic church of Peter, the Church of John (first mentioned in 1297), former castle of Orders (1330), the Church of Peter-Paul. Old Town is bordered semicircle of boulevards. In the middle of the boulevards is Bastion Hill, pour in the channel from the wreckage of the city walls surrounding the city. There are many museums and exhibition halls in Riga. 8 theaters, circus, concert halls and hundreds of restaurants open their doors before the inhabitants of Riga and guests of the city.

The main tourist center in Latvia – Riga, but during the summer – Jurmala. Jurmala is known for the warm coast of the Baltic Sea, dozens of modern resorts, mineral springs and picturesque landscapes.
Jurmala is located 15 km south of Riga.