Excursions: Evening excursions in Vilnius
9th of March (16-20 pm.) Evening excursion No. 1 "Fascinating Vilnius old-town"
The Old Town of Vilnius is one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe, has an area of 3.59 square kilometers. It encompasses 74 quarters, with 70 streets and lanes numbering 1487 buildings with a total floor area of 1,497,000 square meters. The oldest part of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, it has developed over the course of many centuries, and has been shaped by the city's history and a constantly changing cultural influence. It is a place where some of Europe's greatest architectural styles - gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical - stand side by side and complement each other.
Pilies Street is the Old Town's main artery and the hub of cafe and street market life. The main street of Vilnius, Gediminas Avenue, is partially located in the Old Town. The central squares in the Old Town are the Cathedral Square and the Town Hall Square.
One of the most elaborate architectural complexes is the Vilnius University Architectural Ensemble, which occupies the entire section of the Old Town and has 13 courtyards. Close to it there is the President palace.
In 1994 the Vilnius' Old Town was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its universal value and originality. The definition of "historic center" itself has a broader meaning than the Old Town, formerly encircled with defensive walls. It embraces the valuable historical suburbs of Vilnius, such as Uzupis, which historically used to be outside the city boundaries. Therefore Uzupis is often considered a part of the Old Town of Vilnius.
During this excursion we’ll see:
Vilnius university (central buildings) – Presidential palace – Cathedral - Castle complex - Pilies (castle) street - The Church of St Johns – Town Hall - The Church of St. Casimir – Gate of Dawn and St. Teresse church – Barbacan - Cathedral of the Theotokos – The Bernardine Church - The Church of St. Anne - The Church of St. Michael the Archangel – etc….
