Discover Medieval culture of the Baltic States

8 days/ 7 nights

Day 1/ Vilnius  
Arrival at Vilnius. A trip to the hotel. Going to Lithuanian folk restaurant for the welcoming dinner with folk music, tasting national food and drinks. Return to the hotel. Night at a first class hotel in Vilnius.

Day 2/ Vilnius - Trakai - Vilnius   
After breakfast a city tour of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, founded in 1323, by Grand Duke Gediminas. The tour starts at the Cathedral Square. Then a visit to the Cathedral of Vilnius, founded on ancient pagan grounds. Pay the attention to the chapel of St. Casimir, the only Saint of Lithuanian origin. Later on a visit to Vilnius University, the oldest university in the Eastern Europe, founded in 1579, the Town Hall of Vilnius, built at the end of the 18th century, beautiful ensemble of Orthodox monastery, St. Teresa's Church and the Gates of Dawn, with the holy image of the Virgin Mary.
The city tour of Vilnius then leads to St. Ann's Church, which is the best-known sample of Gothic architecture in Lithuania and Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, an example of baroque in Lithuania. Lunch at a restaurant downtown. Then a trip to Trakai. Excursion on foot in Trakai, the former capital of Lithuania, visiting famous Trakai Castle, erected in the middle of Galve Lake and Museum of Karaites, the small ethnic group, living in Lithuania from the 14th century. A return to Vilnius after the city tour of Trakai, to attend a concert of organ music at St. Casimir's Church. Well-known pieces of classical music will be performed by famous organ player in unique atmosphere of the first baroque church in Vilnius. The duration of the concert 30 - 45 minutes. Dinner at a restaurant downtown. Night at a first class hotel in Vilnius.

Day 3/ Vilnius 
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to KGB museum, the cells in the basement of the former KGB building, where thousands of Lithuanians where interrogated before being send to Siberia. Those cells have been preserved to look almost the same as they did when prisoners where packed into them. Lunch at a restaurant downtown.
Optional itinerary for this afternoon:
A marvellous opportunity to visit a famous district of Vilnius, Uzupis Republic, which is sometimes called Lithuanian Montmartre. Can there be anything better than drinking coffee at the café on the bank of river Vilnele, after a visit to a private art gallery? Just remember that in artists' republic you have to be ready for the surprises. Entering an independent republic you'll certainly need visas as well as to pass border control. Therefore, always be ready for unexpected passport re-control, as the police in this Republic are especially strict.
After the visit to Uzupis Republic there is a wonderful opportunity to see baroque music dancers. Baroque music performance will take place in Chodkeviciai Palace (nowadays Vilnius Picture Gallery is located in this Palace). The Estate of Chodkeviciai was formed in the period of Gothic and Renaissance, the present building was built in late classicism style. The rooms contain a variety of paintings, miniatures and medals, mainly dated from the 16th to the 19th century. The performance of the baroque music dancers will be presented in the main hall of the Palace. Drinking wine in cosy atmosphere it is possible to feel like back in the middle ages. Duration of the performance 1 hour. Night at a first class hotel in Vilnius.

Day 4/ Vilnius - Siauliai - Rundale - Riga   
After breakfast a trip to Riga, the capital of Latvia. First stop on the way at the Hill of Crosses, a unique example of Christianity in Lithuania, revealing the creation of Catholic believers, who collected thousands of crosses at one place. The next stop will be at Rundale Palace, a beautiful example of Italian baroque, built by famous architect Rastrielli. The Palace was built for favourite of Jekaterina II Count Biron. It reminds us the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Lunch at Rundale Palace. Then a trip to Riga. Arrival at Riga. Dinner at a restaurant downtown. Night at a first class hotel in Riga.

Day 5/ Riga  
Breakfast at the hotel. City tour of Riga, the capital of Latvia, famous for its art nouveau (Jugendstil) style. Nowhere in Europe does art nouveau define the city space as marvellously as it does here. World War II devastated many of Europe's art nouveau treasures, but in Riga 40 percent of the downtown buildings are of this style. There is also a sprawling medieval old city, a labyrinth of cobblestone roads and merchant houses. The city tour will include visiting Dome Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, Cat's House, Great and Small Guild Houses, House of Blackheads, Riga's Castle, Freedom Monument and Opera building, Mentzendorf's House, a unique example of medieval Riga's architecture with well preserved frescoes and interiors.
Lunch at a restaurant downtown. Dinner at a folk style restaurant in Riga. Night at a first class hotel in Riga.

Day 6/ Riga - Tallinn   
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Tallinn. Lunch in Tallinn. City tour of Tallinn, visiting main sights of the old town as well as sports complex of Pirita, where part of Summer Olympic Games in 1980 took place, Kadriorg Park, where the residence of Estonian President is situated. In the old town, the Town Hall, Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky  Cathedral, Kiek in de Kok (Peep into the kitchen), the watchtower on Vabaduse square, Toompea Hill and Town fortifications, almost 2 kilometres of the town wall, which is the evident example of history turned into heritage and heritage turned into identity, are visited. Dinner in a restaurant downtown. Night at a first class hotel in Tallinn.

Day 7/ Tallinn - Tartu   
Breakfast at the hotel. A trip to Tartu. Lunch in Tartu. City tour of this old university town, visiting the famous Tartu University, Toome Hill Park with its monuments and sculptures, Devil's Bridge and Angel's Bridge, Jaani Church. Dinner at a restaurant downtown. Night at first class hotel in Tartu.

Day 8/ Tartu - Sigulda - Riga   
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Riga. En route visit to Sigulda, a small town in Gauja National Park, which is sometimes called "Latvian Switzerland". A visit to Turaidas Castle, in which the grave of Turaidas Rose is located, a Latvian maiden who chose to die rather than give in to the wishes of a filthy nobleman. Lunch in Sigulda. A trip to Riga airport.