Visits: 557
Tour № 1 – Šventaragis Valley
- Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus & St. Vladislaus
- Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus & St. Vladislaus (inside, including the Chapel of St. Casimir, the Chapel of Deportees, the Gasztołd Chapel, the Royal Chapel, St. Wladislaw/Vladislaus/Ladislav Chapel, High alter, Memorial plague to the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas Magnus, the Sapieha Madona’s picture, etc)
- Cathedral Basilica Bell Tower
- Royal Palace of Lithuania (the Palace of Grand Dukes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania)
- Upper Castle
- Upper Castle’s West (Gediminas) Tower
- Old Arsenal – Museum of Applied Art
- New Arsenal – Lithuanian National Museum
- Monument to King Mindaugas (1236-1263: Crowned King on July 6th, 1253)
- Monument to Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (1316-1341: the founder of Gediminian-Jagiellonian ruling dynasty)
Tour № 2 – Vilnius University & Monastery Quarter
- Vilnius University – Historical Campus (est. 1579)
- Vilnius University – the Bronze door of the Central Library
- Vilnius University – Historical Campus (inside, including 12 university’s courtyards, Domus Philologiae, Smuglevičius Hall, White (Observatory) Hall, Lelewel Hall, Lithuanian Philology Centre, etc)
- Vilnius University – Science Museum
- St. Johns’ Church in the Great (Skarga) university’s Courtyard
- St. Johns’ Church in the Great (Skarga) university’s Courtyard (inside, including Great alter, Altar of Maria of Loretto, Chapel of St. Anne, Altar of St. Victorino, Organ, several memorial plagues and frescos, etc)
- St. Johns’ Church in the Great (Skarga) university’s Courtyard – Bell Tower
- Dominican Street
- University Street
- St. John Street
- Church of the Holy Cross and former Hospitaller Monastery
- Monument to Laurinas Gucevičius (1753-1798)
- Presidential Palace (Prezidentura)
- Alumni (Alumnatas) Courtyard
- Sanctuary of Divine Mercy
- Church of the Holy Spirit and former Dominican Monastery
- St. Ignatius Church and former Jesuit novitiate
- Plaque for Righteous Among the Nations
- Monument to Stanislaw Moniuszko (1819-1872)
- St. Catherine’s Church and former Benedictine Monastery
Tour № 3 – From the Cathedral Basilica to Town Hall Square
- Buildings of Pilies Street
- House of the Signatories
- Marija and Jurgis Šlapelis House Museum
- Paraskeva Russian Orthodox Church
- Pilies Street souvenir open market – What should you buy in Vilnius
- Buildings of Didžioji (Great) Street
- Vilnius Picture Gallery (Chodkiewicz Palace)
- Stendhal House
- Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
- Historical Town Hall
- Buildings around the Square of Historical Town Hall
- Former printing house of Francysk Skaryna (1486-1551) – the Magistrate House
- Buildings of Savičiaus Street
- Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis’ (1875-1911) Memorial Flat Museum
- Church of Blessed Mary the Comforter and the Augustine Monastery
- Kazys Varnelis’ (1917-2010) House Museum – Great and Small Guilds
- Casimir Church
- Buildings of Subačius Street
- Bastion – an artillery fortification
- Church of the Assumption and former Missionary Monastery
Tour № 4 – Quarter of Three Confessions
- Buildings of Aušros Street
- Radisson SAS Astorijos Hotel (former Italia hotel)
- Building of National Philharmonic
- Monument to Jonas Basanavičius (1851-1927) on the square in front of National Philharmonic
- Memorial plaque to Ignacy Domeyko (1802-1889)
- Baroque gate to Uniate Church of the Holy Trinity and former Basilian Monastery
- Uniate Church of the Holy Trinity and former Basilian Monastery
- Memorial plaque to Josaphat Kuncevic (St. Josaphat, 1580-1623)
- Memorial plaque on the building of former Basilian Monastery where Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855) was imprisoned
- Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit and monastery
- Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit (inside, including the remains of the Three Vilnius Martyrs kept under a wooden canopy in front of the iconostasis)
- Church of St. Teresa (of Ávila, Spain) and former Carmelite Monastery
- Church of St. Teresa (of Ávila, Spain) (inside, including the church’s mural paintings, the Chapel of Pac’s family’s mausoleum, impressive, gently-curved church’s pulpit and the altar)
- Chapel of the Gate of Dawn (Medininkų Gate)
- The sacred picture of the Holy Virgin Mary in the Chapel of the Gate of Dawn (Medininkų Gate)
- Votive objects in the Chapel of the Gate of Dawn (Medininkų Gate)
- The Gate of Dawn (Medininkų Gate) from the southern side with a Renaissance composition of Vytis
Tour № 5 – Jewish Quarter
- Small and Large Vilnius Jewish Ghettos
- Monument to the Vilna Gaon
- Mark Antokolski (1840-1902) House
- Former Mattityahu Strashun (1817-1885) Jewish Library
- Vokiečių gatvė (German Street)
- Contemporary Art Centre
- „Barbara“ sculpture
- Monument in remembrance of Vilnius Ghetto martyrs and fighters in 1941-1943
- Church of St. Nicholas
- A sculpture of Vilnius Patron Saint Christopher in the yard of the Church of St. Nicholas
- Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Amatų gildija (Artisan guild) open ceramic workshop and gallery
- Former Vilnius ghetto theatre 1941-1943
- Former Gothic façade at Karmelitų gatvę (Carmelite Street)
- Closed courtyards with open galleries, characteristic of Old Town architecture
- Church of All Saints and former Carmelite Monastery
- A section of Vilnius historical defensive wall
- The sculpture named „Egg“
- Monument to Tzemach Shabad (1864-1935)
- Choral Synagogue
- Church of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary and former Franciscan Monastery
- Sculpture of the Holy Virgin Mary (The White Mother of God)
- Suzin’s built Baroque-style family mausoleum chapel
- A monument to Jozef Montwiłł (1850-1911)
Tour № 6 – Bends of the River Vilnia
- Adam Mickiewicz’s Memorial Flat Museum
- Church of St. Anne
- Church of St. Francis and St. Bernardine
- Chapel of the Holy Steps
- Monument to Adam Mickiewicz
- Church of St. Michael the Archangel
- Adam Mickiewitz’s House
- Sereikiškių Park
- Amber Museum
- Russian Orthodox Church of the Blessed Mother of God
- „Angel of Užupis“ sculpture
- Constitution of the „Republic of Užupis“
- Church of St. Bartholomew
- Bernardinų Cemetery
Tour № 7 – City Centre
- Three Crosses Monument on the Three Crosses Hill
- Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
- Petras Vileišis Estate
- Tuskulėnų Park with columbarium
- A building of Lithuanian Energy
- A building of Lithuanian Theatre, Music and Film (A Small Radziwiłł Palace)
- A Great Radziwiłł Palace
- Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum
- Sculpture or Roman Gary
- A monument to Frank Zappa
- Museum of Genocide Victims (former KGB Headquarters)
- A plaque to Chiune Sugihara
All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic
© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018
RELATED POSTS
St. Lazarus' almshouse operated in this church, plague and famine victims were buried there. In 1715, the church and the monastery were given to the brethren of St. Rochus who tended to sick people, and in 1752 - to the sisters of MaryIn a cemetery at the church many outstanding people were buried, among others architect Laurynas Stuoka-Gucevičius. A memorial plaque to him is set up on the south façade of the church. However, later the cemetery was turned into a storage site of construction materialsThe church was severely damaged during a fire in 1794. The church was reconstructed and slightly transformed in 1801-1806. In 1864, the convent was closed down, and the buildings converted into a prisonAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020
Continue ReadingIn 1780, Vilnius Bishop Ignacy Massalski settled in Verkiai. He commissioned Lithuanian architect Laurynas Gucevičius to reconstruct an earlier palace. The general plan and maintenance buildings were designed by Lithuanian architect Martin KnackfussThe ensemble encompasses the park of 36 ha. Situated on two terraces, the park consisted of two parts - the upper and the great park. A view of Vilnius and the Neris River is exposed from a steep slopeSince 1960 the ensemble belongs to the Lithuanian Academy of Science and is gradually renovatedAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2021
Continue ReadingThe Górecki estate in Dominikonų St. 15 is a two-storey Gothic house. It was built on this site in the late 15th or early 16th century. In 1649 it was bought by Vilnius UniversityZawisha estate is known since late 16th or early 17th century. It was renovated in the late 18th century. The façade is strictly symmetrical, done in the style of early Classicism. Renaissance vaults have survivedDominikonų Street is dominated by the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit and the Dominican Monastery (1501)All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020
Continue ReadingMindaugas Bridge is constructed in 2003. It has the name of the only Lithuanian King crowned on July 6th, 1253On the foothill on the left riverside of Neris, there is a Renaissance building of Old Arsenal followed by the buildings of House of the Castle Keeper and New Arsenal On the right riverside of Neris, a new business center of Vilnius is growing during the last two decadesAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2019
Continue ReadingIn 1986 the east winf of the Old Arsenal was restored. It houses the Museum of Applied Art and Design. The Old Arsenal enables the visitors to feel the ambience of the Renaissance Vilnius The building of the Old Arsenal was remodelled by Sigismund Augustus (second half of the 16th century) in the Renaissance style, mainly by adding a third floor (the attic), decorated in double arch niches. In was an enormous building, reputed to be the largest in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth The Old Arsenal was badly damaged during the war with Russia in 1655-1661, and remained a virtual ruin until the late 18th century when in 1780 was rebuilt and burned down at the end of WWIIAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020
Continue ReadingThe church is endowed by Juliana, the wife of Lithuania's Grand Duke Algirdas (1345-1377) and mother of Lithuania's and Poland's ruler Jogaila. Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila baptized Lithuania in 1387. She was buried in the churchFragments of Gothic masonry have survived in the bottom part and in some segments up to the top. The present façades and the cupola imitate Georgian medieval architectureIn 1415 the church was transformed into a cathedral. In 1511-1522 it was reconstructed by Prince Constantine Ostrogsky. In 1516 Helen (a Russian Orthodox), wife of Alexander Jagiellon (Polish King and Lithuanian Grand Duke) was buried there. In 1609 the cathedral was given to the Uniates (Greek Catholics). In 1865-1868 it rendered its present appearance, and it began to function as a church again All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018
Continue ReadingOne of the focal touristic attractions in the Žvėrynas district of Vilnius is the traditional type of the wooden houses coloured in different coloursŽvėrynas means "menagerie" or "beastland". In the 19th century a forest grew in this areaSince 1893, the process of urbanization of the district of Žvėrynas started with the building of wooden and brick villas and summerhouses. Today, this district of Vilnius is a prestigiuos residential part of the capitalAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020
Continue ReadingThe family of the noblemen Chodkiewicz bought a house that stood on this site, and transformed it into a Renaissance residenceGrand Hall of the Vilnius Picture Gallery in former Chodkiewicz PalaceThe Classicist interior of the palace is a notable feature of the building of former Chodkiewicz Palace, today the Vilnius Picture GalleryAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020
Continue ReadingAlumnatas Courtyard was the location for the student dormitory of a pontifical seminary in which seminary students (alumni) and future Greek Catholic (Uniate) priests lived. The courtyard is located in the Monastery Quarter of Vilnius very close to the Old Campus of Vilnius University and Presidential Palace (Prezidentura). Alumnatas (the Greek Catholic/Uniate) Courtyard in probably the most impressive and beautiful courtyards in Old Town of VilniusIn the mid-17th century, the courtyard was remodelledin an Italian Renaissance style , along with a chapelLater the buldings around Alumnatas Courtyard passed to Vilnius UniversityAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018
Continue ReadingIt was not until 1503 when Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Alexander Jagiellon granted a privilege that the construction of the wall began. The year 1522 is considered to mark the end of the construction, when Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund the Old exempted the residents of Vilnius from the duty of keeping guard at the castle and ordered 24 guards to be posted at the city gatesThe length of the defensive wall was 2,5 kilometres having 10 gates. The wall surrounded the territory of today's Old Town, approximatelly 100 hectars. The foundation of the defensive wall was built of stone, and bricks were mainly used at the level of loopholes and higher. The was was adapted for defence with gunpoweder-operated firearms Until the late-18th century, the Vilnius defensive wall was frequently renovated. The wall served for the last time in 1794 during the uprising led by ...
Continue ReadingTown Hall Square has been a market place since very early times, and it today dominated by the Town Hall which was formerly a court, with the basement being used as prison cellsThe Town Hall back-side. The present building was constructed between 1785 and 1799 by the Classical architect Lithuanian Laurynas Stuoka-Gucevičius The square in front of the Town Hall is the venue for an annual three-day crafts market on the weekend closest to March 4th, St. Casimir's DayAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020
Continue ReadingAt the Church of the Holy Spirit, a Dominican monastery was established on St. Ignatius Street in 1501. In the 19th century, the buildings of the monastery were converted into a prison The entrance from St. Ignatius Street to the former old Jesuit Novitiate: arranged around three courtyards. It is the same age as the nearby Church of St. IgnatiusThe Church of St. Ignatius was erected from 1622 to 1647 being devastated by fires in 1748-1750. It suffered during the war against Russia from 1655 to 1661. The porch was added in the 19th century.All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020
Continue ReadingThe organ, made by famous German master Adam G. Casparini in 1776, is one of the most valuable cultural monuments of Lithuania. The organ itself is the only surviving original 18th-century instrument in LithuaniaThe church has many Baroque frescoes. In the cupola, there is a multi-figural composition "Apotheosis of the Holy Spirit" (neo-Baroque, 19th century)The altars and the pulpit are lavishly decorated with round and relief sculptures and ornamentation All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018
Continue ReadingThe museum is located in the north wing of the Old Arsenal and looks at Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age Lithuania followed by the various tribes that inhabited the area until they combined to form a state in the 13th centuryThe museum displays object found in burial sites, such as pins, amulets, rings, brooches, knives or necklaces. You can as well as see regional dressses of Lithuanian tribes before the formation of the state in the mid-13th century The museum shows a hoard of some 16.000 17th-century coins found in 1999 in Vilnius. It is believed that the hoard may have been hidden during the 1700-1721 Great Northen War. Nevertheless, it is the largest collection of old coins to be found in Lithuania All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020
Continue ReadingThe founder of the church was a Grand Hetman and Vilnius Voivode of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The 17th-century church's façade is modest, however the interior is richly ornate with a number of stucco mouldings The church was built to mark the liberation of Vilnius from Moscow (The 1655-1661 War) and the founder's own escape from the hands of rebellious soldiers. The interior was created by the Italians G. P. Perti and G. M. Galli, who decorated it with more than 2,000 stucco mouldings The chandelier was created in 1905 in Riga and represents the Biblical Noah's arkAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018
Continue ReadingAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic
Continue ReadingUžupio street is the main street in the city's district of Užupis. The district was in the Soviet time one of the most dilapidated districts in Vilnius. Many of the buildings did not have electricity and sanitary facilities, and the streets were unlitThe River Užupis which separates Užupis district from the Old Town. On one side of the river is a unique ensemble of sacred buildings and a park, while on the other side is "Republic of Užupis", where a number of artists live and work"Angel of Užupis" sculpture. An angel is playing a trumpet that provides ideas about Užupis to others and protects the district. The 24th Article of the Constitution of Užupis, for instance, says that "Everyone has the right to understand nothing". The district is separated from the Old Town by the River Vilnia on three sides, and by a high hill on the fourth sideAll photos ...
Continue ReadingIn this street, it was used to be a market place where it meets Pilies street. The first Town Hall is also believed to have stood on this spot Pharmacy house in St. John St. No. 5. Georg Schulz's pharmacy operated in this house since 1639. During the war in 1655, the house was burned down. In 1781, pharmacist Koszyk acquired the ruined building and reconstructed it The Pac estate. Since 1628, the building belonged to the Pac magnate family of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1783, the dilapidated building was bought, renovated and decorated by the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania - Alexander Michael Sapieha. Currently, the building belongs to the Polish Embassy All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020
Continue ReadingThe courtyard of the palace. In 1834 the building was reconstructed and acquired its present appearance. In 1919 it was given to the university and was home to several well-known professors The façade is harmonious, moderately decorated. The façades of the servants' house facing the courtyard and Bokšto Str. (No. 5) Today the palace houses the Vilnius Picture Gallery and the Lithuanian Art MuseumAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2019
Continue ReadingThe life and work of Dr. Jurgis and Marija Šlapelis reflects the life of the region of Vilnius from the second half of the 19th century to 1940. Both of them have been cultural figures in Lithuania. Marija was actress. They published Lithuanian books that were banned at that timeDr. Jurgis and Marija Šlapelis owned the only Lithuanian language bookstore in Vilnius during 1906-1949. The Šlapelis family bought the house in 1926. Before, it was a goldsmith's workshops, and later housed a small holet called the Hotel de Philadelphie, and a wine shop The building is an example of the 17-th century architecture. Dr. Jurgis died in 1941, and Marija in 1977 at the age of 97. After WWII, the house was nationalised, and, therefore, Marija Šlapelis was forced to live in two small rooms upstairs, with the only access to them through another person's quarters. Marija stipulated in her ...
Continue ReadingChurch of St. Stephen
The Ensemble of the Verkiai Estate
Dominikonų Street in Vilnius
Vilnius Panorama of the Neris River
The Old Arsenal in Vilnius
Russian Orthodox Church of the Blessed Mother of God
Traditional Wooden Houses in Žvėrynas
The Vilnius Picture Gallery (Chodkiewicz Palace)
Alumnatas Courtyard
The Defensive Wall of Vilnius
Around Town Hall Square in Vilnius
St. Ignatius Street
Dominican Church of the Holy Spirit (Interior)
The Museum of Archaeology of Lithuania
Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Vilnius
Photo Slider Old Town in Vilnius: Vilnius University and Monastery Quarter
“Republic of Užupis”
St. John Steet in Vilnius
Chodkiewicz Palace – Vilnius Picture Gallery & Lithuanian Art Museum
The Šlapelis House Museum