- Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

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Leisurely Riga

Leisurely Riga

Excursions

20 - 30
2.5 hours
Easy

Leaving the port we drive along the Daugava River, then through Riga’s boulevards which are lined with a wealth of architecture to appreciate – notably the Art Nouveau designs of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We now commence a drive around the outskirts of the Old Town (inaccessible to coaches), pausing for a photo stop at the Freedom Monument. Erected in 1935, the bronze woman holding aloft three stars (representing three Latvian regions of Latgale, Kurzeme and Vidzeme) symbolises the struggle of the Latvian people for independence and it became a hub of the independence movement of the late 1980’s. En route to Riga Castle we shall pass the National Theatre, the tower of St Jacob’s Church, the Arsenal Building and the Powder Tower – this 14th century tower is the only surviving defence tower of the city walls. At Riga Castle (residence of Latvia’s President) there is a photo stop. From here we can see the spire of the Dome Cathedral.

Proceeding to Town Hall Square, another stop is made for photos. We can capture on film the spire of St Peter’s Church, the Blackhead Building (the merchants’ guildhouse) and Mentzendorff’s House (an architectural monument from the 17th and 18th centuries). Travelling across the Daugava River we pass interesting wooden architecture, before our final photo stop is made on the peninsula, with a panoramic view of the Old Town.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2010 SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC SEASON

TOUR NOTES: There will be a walk to/from the coach at the start/end of this tour – up to approximately 500 metres (1,650 feet). Walking at the photo stops is at passengers’ own discretion, and passengers may remain on the coach if they prefer. Sights may be viewed in a different order to that described and photo stops are subject to traffic conditions on the day.