Vilnius is the capital of
Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 554,060 (838,852 together with
Vilnius County) as of
2011. It is located in the southeast of the country. It is the second biggest city of the
Baltic states, after
Riga.
Vilnius is the seat of the
Vilnius city municipality and of the
Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County. The first known written record of Vilnius as the
Lithuanian capital is known from
Gediminas' letters in 1323.
Vilnius is classified as a
Gamma global city according to GaWC studies, and is known for its
Old Town of beautiful architecture, declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1994. Its
Jewish influence until the
20th century has led to it being described as the "
Jerusalem of
Lita" and
Napoleon named it "the Jerusalem of the
North" as he was passing through in 1812
. In the year 2009, Vilnius was the
European Capital of Culture, together with the
Austrian city of
Linz.
Vilnius has been rapidly transformed, and the town has emerged as a modern
European city. Many of its older buildings have been renovated, and a business and commercial area is being developed into the
New City Centre, expected to become the city's main administrative and business district on the north side of the
Neris river. This area includes modern residential and retail space, with the municipality building and the 129-metre (423')
Europa Tower as its most prominent buildings. The construction of Swedbank's headquarters is symbolic of the importance of Scandinavian banks in Vilnius. The building complex "Vilnius
Business Harbour" was built in 2008, and one of its towers is now the 5th tallest building in Lithuania. More buildings are scheduled for construction in the area. Vilnius was selected as a 2009 European Capital of Culture, along with Linz, the capital of
Upper Austria.
Identified views and locations include: the view from the
Television Tower, the view of the Television Tower, Laisvės pr., T Narbuto g.,
St. Raphael The Archangel Church, Šnipiškes, Konstitucijos pr.,
Radisson Blu, Upės g., Baltasis tiltas,
Neris River, Gediminas Ave,
Museum of Genocide Victims, Auku g., Tauro kln, Pamėnkalnio g.,
Vincas Kudirka Square,
Novotel, Gedimino pr.,
National Theatre,
Vilnius Cathedral,
Cathedral Square,
Gediminas Tower,
Hill of Three Crosses,
Vilnia River, Arsenalo g., T. Vrublevskio g.,
Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Library, Mindaugo tiltas, Žveju g., Vilnaus
Žaliasis tiltas, Žygimantu g., Šiltadarzio g.,
St. Anne's Church,
Orthodox Cathedral of
Our Lady of the Assumption,
Military Fort & Defensive
Wall, Šv. Davasios g.,
Gate of Dawn, Ausros Vartu g.,
St. Theresa's Church, Lithuanian
National Phillarmonic
Society Hall, Ausros Vartu g., Didžioji g.,
St Casimir Church, Rotuses a.,
Vilnius Town Hall,
Town Hall Square, Didžioji g.,
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, St. Parasceve
Orthodox Church,
Church of St. John, Dominikonu g., Šv. Jono g.,
Vilnius University, Grounds of the
Presidential Palace, Presidenital
Palace, Sv. Kryziaus baznycia, Liejyktos g., Lithuanian
Ministry of National Defence, Totorinu g., Gedimino pr.,
Vilniaus g., Šv. Kotrynos bažnyčia, Vokieciu g., Vilniaus gelezinkelio stotis,
Vilnius Airport Railway Station and Vilnius Uro Uostas
Airport.
- published: 25 Jan 2013
- views: 59089