Vilnius-Sightseeng Guided Tours

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

The Bastion of the Vilnius Defensive Wall (II)

The architect of the Vilnius Bastion is unknown. The building that rose in the early 17th century is attributed to the period of late Renaissance and in that period Vilnius did not have a municipal architectThe wars of the mid-17th century and the 18th century weakened the military power of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The army led by the Russian Emperor Aleksey Mikhailovich approached Vilnius in August 1655 and seized the cityWhen Vilnius was liberated in 1660, the city's defensive fortifications needed repair. However, there was not enough funds and the citizens were unable to maintain defensive fortifications, supply them with arms and gunpowder and provide securityAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

The Pac Mansion

Polish King Jan Sobieski, Russian Emperor Alexander I and French Emperor Napoleon I visited the mansion on various occasions. The building was reconstructed in 1839-1841. The present façade is ClassicalA Florentine artist Michelangelo Palloni, was invited from Italy in 1674 to work at Pažaislis monastery and church near Kaunas, and Mykolas Kazimieras Pacas then commissioned him to paint frescoes for of this estate.Unfortunately, none of the original interior, which also included rich stucco work, remainsAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2022

The Hill of Three Crosses

Three crosses are believed to have first been erected on this hill above the Old Town of Vilnius in the 17th century to commemorate a group of 14 Franciscan monks from a nearby monastery who were martyred in the 14th century The monument has changed several times. The present one was built in 1989 to replace one that had been removed by the Soviet authorities in the 1950sOne of the best panoramic views of the Old Town of Vilnius is offered from the Hill of Three CrossesAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

Gediminas Tower

Upper Caste's Gediminas Tower (14th century) with the Royal Palace of Lithuania (the Palace of Grand Dukes of Lithuania, 16th century). Today, it houses a museum and an observation deck from which it can be seen a beautiful panorama of the city from the 75 m. high perchThe museum exposition features plans of castlereconstruction as well as armamentsGediminas Tower with the Lithuanian tricolor flag became a symbol of Lithuania. Gediminas Tower is a Western tower of the Higher Castle of Vilnius with an octagonal plan, stone foundations, and mainly brick walls built in the Gothic mannerAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018

Church of the Heart of Jesus and the Convent of the Visitationists in Vilnius

The Church of the Heart of Jesus is a significant monument of Baroque (finished in 1756). It is the only Roman Catholic church in Lithuania to be built along a Greek Orthodox cross designThe church has a large octagonal cupola (dome) and a very reach the elegant exterior. The interior is no less magnificent, although it was severely damaged during the Soviet timeAfter 1945, a prison was established in the church and convent buildings. The church interior and the plan of the convent buildings were transformed. After 1990, the sacral buildings are returned to their former ownersAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

Słuszki Estate in Vilnius

The building was noted for its stately late Baroque appearance. Michelangelo Palloni and Pietro Perti are thought to be the authors of the decorationsNoteworthy is an interesting Baroque pediment with a stucco bas-reliefA courtyard of the estate. Today, the buildings belongs to the Lithuanian Academy of Music and TheatreAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

The Šlapelis House Museum

The 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 ...

“Republic of Užupis”

Užupio 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 ...

Church of the Holy Spirit & Former Dominican Monastery (Exterior)

The church is inconspicuous from the street, as its façade does not face the streetThe 51 meter-tall dome can be seen from seven Old Town streetsThe Dominican Church of the Holy Spirit is one of the most magnificent churches in Vilnius. It is an excellent monument of high and late Baroque All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018

The Observatory Courtyard of the Vilnius University

One of the Latin inscriptions: "This house is that of Urania: be gone profane worries! Here the humble Earth is scorned: from here one rises to the stars"Here it was a Jesuit pharmacy. Medical herbs were grown in the courtyardThe buildings of the Observatory Courtyard are the oldest in the university ensembleAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018

The Bastion of the Vilnius Defensive Wall (I)

The Bastion is comprised of a tower, cannon room and 48 m. the long corridor connecting it with the towerThe walls and moats of the Bastion were excavated in 1965-1970, and the canon room was renovated in 1985-1986 The entire Bastion is converted into a museum, and since 1987 it houses an exhibition of defensive fortifications and weaponryAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2019

Church of St. Francis and St. Bernardine (Interior)

The main altar with Late Baroque forms, made from dark woodInterior of Church of St. Francis and St. BernardineWhile restoring the church, one of the largest mural paintings from the Late Gothic and Renaissance periods was discovered. They depict scenes from the Bible, Franciscan legends and symbolic imagesAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

House-Monument with Gothic Façade

A former Gothic façade that was uncovered at Karmelitų Str. around Rūdninkų Square in the Old Town of VilniusThe back-side façade from the inner courtyardThe back-side façade from the inner courtyard. The house is located on the territory of WWII Large Jewish GhettoAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

Vilnius Panorama of the Neris River

Mindaugas 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

Choral Synagogue in Vilnius

Choral Synagogue is the place of the only working synagogue and school "Tarahat Hakodesh" in Vilnius This synagogue is built in the Oriental Moorish style and is only survived one out of some 105 before WWII synagogues and other Judaic prayer housesThe exterior contains an inscription in Hebrew "A prayer house is sacred for all nations", and above the pediment the tablets with the Ten Divine Commandments are representedAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

Trakų Street in Vilnius

Trakų St. finishes where it meets Pylimo St, which runs along the course of the old city wall. There used to be a gate here, which was pulled down together with the wall at the very beginning of the 19th century. In the niche of the Umiastowski estate (Trakų St. 2) there is a Statue of "The City Guard" (1973) In Trakų Street, there is the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption that was founded here by the noble Goštautas family in 1387, the same year as Lithuania became converted to Christianity. However, it is believed that the church with the monastery existed even earlierOne of courtyards of the buildings in Trakų StreetAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

Russian Orthodox Church of the Blessed Mother of God

The 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

Jonas Basanavičius Monument in Vilnius

A monument to dr. Jonas Basanavičius in Vilnius in front of the building of the Lithuanian National PhilharmonicDr. Jonas Basanavičius chaired the session of Lithuanian Council that adopted the Act of Independence of Lithuania on 1918-02-16. He was the first to sign the Act of the Proclamation of the Lithuanian IndependenceBalancing between Lithuanian and Polish interests, he refused to participate in the opening of the Polish Stefan Batory University (today Vilnius University)All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

King Mindaugas Monument

After being baptized in 1251 into the Roman Catholicism in 1251, Grand Duke Mindaugas built the first cathedral in Vilnius on the site of the present-day Cathedral Basilica (Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and St. Vladislaus). Before that, in pagan times an altar, a sacred fire or even a Perkūnas sanctuary was located on the site of today's Cathedral Basilica The creation of the Lithuanian state started as late as the 13th century. Its first outstanding ruler Mindaugas was baptized in 1251 and crowned King of Lithuania on July 6th, 1253. Today, July 6th is a national holiday of Lithuanian statehood It is assumed that it was Mindaugas who built the first Cathedral in Vilnius. Traces of the original Cathedral incorporating Romanesque style features have been discovered in the vaults of the present Cathedral. After Mindaugas's death, the Christian (Roman Catholic) Cathedral was turned into a place of pagan worship. The author ...

Church of St. Jacob and Philip (2)

The present church was built in the late 17th century, after its predecessor was burnt down in the 1655 during the war with Russia. The church was completed only in the middle of the 18th century The nave is 24 metres high, making it the tallest in Vilnius; and its length is the same, with accounts for its concentrated appearance when viewed from the sideIn the north tower is a particularly ornate chapel, dedicated to the Dominican St. Hyacinth, with frescoes depicting scenes from his life. The fresco above the entrance depicts the Virgin Mary and Angels. The church was returned to the Dominicans in 1993All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018