Riga
Saturday August 1st. Our excursion around Riga included bus and boat rides and a walking tour.
Riga, the capital of Latvia, is the largest city in the Baltic states and a fascinating blend of medieval history, grand architecture, and modern European life. Founded in 1201, Riga became an important trading center and its location on the Daugava River helped make it one of the Baltic region’s most prosperous cities. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and celebrated its 825th anniversary in 2026.
The Old Town is the heart of Riga with Art Nouveau architecture buildings including the Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theater founded in 1883, the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, the Latvian Radio Building, and various statues and monuments.
An important landmark is the Freedom Monument, erected in 1935 to honor Latvia’s independence. The woman at its top holds three stars representing Latvia’s historic regions, and the monument became an important symbol of national identity during the Soviet occupation and Latvia’s eventual restoration of independence in 1991.
Next to St. Peter’s Church with the prominent spire is the “House of the Blackheads”, a reconstruction of the “New House” that was built in 1334. Many parts are the original and survived the destruction during World War II. In the 15th century, the Brotherhood of the Blackheads—a fraternity of young, unmarried foreign merchants—became its occupants. The name “Blackheads” comes from their patron saint, St. Maurice, a Roman military commander traditionally depicted as a dark-skinned man. His head became the brotherhood’s symbol and appears repeatedly on the building.
Along the Daugava River is the historic skyline of Riga including the Riga Cathedral flanked by the spires of St. Peter, St. James, and St. Saviour Churches. Also along the river is the Latvian headquarters of the Swedbank, completed in 2004.
A beautiful sunset greeted us over the Gulf of Riga which feeds into the Baltic Sea.
After dinner in the Dining Room we re-visited Stan's new BFF, the ice cream server on the ship. After enjoying said ice cream we attended the nightly show, then sat on comfortable couches outside the theater to discuss what to do in Tallinn, Estonia the next day.
