It is the oldest in Europe and the locals refer to it aptly as the вЂstomach of the cityвЂ™.

The lively, noisy Central Market (Centraltirgus), next to the railway station, is a sight worth seeing in itself. The apartment of the famous Latvian architect Konstantins Peksens is now an amazing museum, which re-creates in the smallest detail the style of the period, furnished entirely with items originating from the heyday of the art nouveau movement in the 19th century.ДЄddress: Alberta iela 12, LV-1010 Riga, Museum of the History of Riga & Navigation: The cityвЂ™s oldest (1773) museum narrates the troubled history of Riga from ancient times to the present day, with particular emphasis on the era of its greatness as a maritime trading and shipping city.ДЄ shopping excursion in Riga can be an exciting experience, particularly if your interests lie in the area of local arts and crafts.

This is one of the best itineraries to follow if you want a really delightful walk through the city.ДЄddress: CentrДЃltirgus iela 5, LV-1050 RigaДЄrt Nouveau Museum: The jewel in the crown of RigaвЂ™s architecture is the art nouveau district, the largest and most attractive in Europe, sealed with the stamp of UNESCO approval. The atmosphere of the period is revived through 100 timber constructions, from farms and windmills to churches, while the park employees wear the costumes and re-enact the daily activities of the local people of times gone by.ДЄddress: BrД«vД«bas gatve 440, LV-1024 Riga, Pilsetas Canals: Known as the City Canal, the old defensive moat of mediaeval Riga now winds its way through an idyllic setting of green spaces and parks dividing the Old Town from the art nouveau district of the 19th century. House of the Blackheads: Built in 1344 to house meetings of the BlackheadsвЂ™ guild (the unmarried merchants of that time), this exquisite architectural gem sustained repeated damage until finally being reconstructed in 2001 to mark the eight hundredth anniversary of the city.ДЄddress: RДЃtslaukums 7, LV-1050 Riga, Open-Air Ethnographic Museum: An exciting, living museum which re-creates with absolute authenticity the living conditions in four regions of Latvia during the 18th and 19th centuries, against the backdrop of a wooded park near the shore of Lake Jugla. The guard of honour is changed every hour of the day.ДЄddress: Brivibas Bulvaris and Raina Bulvaris, LV-1050 Riga It was built in 1935, funded by public donations, and since then has been a place of commemoration and gathering point for rallies and demonstrations. The famous Baroque campanile offers the best platform for incomparable views of the city.ДЄddress: SkДЃrnu 19, LV-1050 Riga, Museum of the Occupation of Latvia 1940-1991: The Museum of the Occupation offers a comprehensive and impressive record of half a century of oppression of the Latvian people (1940-1991) by the Nazi and Soviet regimes.ДЄddress: Strelnieku laukums 1, LV-1050 Riga, Freedom Monument: A symbol of the struggle of the Latvian people for freedom and independence, the lofty bronze statue of Freedom rises above the parks between the Old and New Towns. PeterвЂ™s Church (1209) towers over the city of Riga, reaching a height of 123 metres. Since 1880 its interior has been dominated by one of the worldвЂ™s largest organs, with no fewer than 6,768 pipes.ДЄddress: Doma Laukums 1, LV-1050 Riga, St. Riga Cathedral: The huge domed cathedral next to the main square in the Old Town dates from the 13th century, and is the largest in the Baltic countries. There are more than 150 buildings of historical and architectural importance here, dating from the 13th to the 19th century, and a walk around the Old Town is a truly amazing journey back through time. Old Town: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the mediaeval Old Town of Riga is a delightful maze of narrow, cobbled streets and beautiful little squares, buzzing with life all year round.

Rix twitter