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Choosing Baltic cruises for your next holiday will allow you to visit some of Europe's most fascinating cities, including historic Riga. The Latvian capital is renowned for the sights of its old town, which has been given UNESCO World Heritage Site status, but is also notable for its unique mix of East and West European influences. During your visit to Riga you will see modern western-style architecture, together with lots of evidence of Latvia's time under Russian control and of Riga's history as part of Sweden and the Holy Roman Empire. One of the highlights of your cruise holiday in the Baltic is sure to be a tour around Riga's historic centre. You will see some of the finest examples of medieval architecture that can be found anywhere in Europe, together with some magnificent art nouveau buildings. At the centre of the old town are some of Riga's original medieval homes, including the House of the Three Brothers. And the area is packed with imposing buildings dating from the Middle Ages, including Riga castle, St Peter's and St George's churches and the famous domed cathedral, which houses a huge pipe organ. The oldest parts of Riga are surrounded by boulevards and public buildings constructed during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They are a mixture of classic Russian style, such as the National Theatre, and the Jugendstil strand of art nouveau, including some designed by Mikhail Eisenstein. Few other cities have such a fine selection of art nouveau-style buildings maintained to such a high standard. Other parts of Riga have the look of an affluent Western European city, with contemporary architecture such as the Sun Stone and Panorama Plaza demonstrating how much progress Latvia has made since securing independence in 1991. The more modern parts of the city are also home to a large selection of cafes, bars and restaurants where you can sample Latvian cuisine and meet the friendly locals. Visiting Riga is sure to be a memorable experience, but it will be one of many during your Baltic cruise. You are also sure to love the beautiful city of St Petersburg, along with Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki.
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