Page 236 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

234  LITHU ANIA REGION B Y REGION

Street-by-Street: Town Hall
Square to the Gates of Dawn

Lithuania’s distinctive Baroque architecture, known as Vilnius
Baroque, can be admired in the outstanding monuments
clustered around the Gates of Dawn and the Church of
St Casimir. The enchanting collection of towers and sculptures
was created during the 17th and 18th centuries by Italian and
Polish architects and their Polish-Lithuanian noble patrons.
The buildings are elegantly designed with symmetrical f. Church of St Casimir
façades, reflecting an unmistakable Italian influence. This church was the city’s
Nonetheless, the mystical atmosphere, so unique to Vilnius, museum of atheism from 1963
distinguishes the area from any other European city. to 1991. The crown symbolizes
St Casimir’s royal lineage.

s Town Hall D I D Ž I O J I G A T V Ė
With a bold Classical portico, the Town Hall A U Š R O S V A R T Ų G A T V Ė
was designed by the renowned Lithuanian
architect Laurynas Stuoka-Gucevičius.

V O K I E Č I Ų G A T V Ė R D I A R K L I ų G A T V Ė
Ū
N
N
K
ų
A T
G
Key V Ė
Suggested route

d Contemporary Art Centre
is a Soviet-era venue for
groundbreaking modern art.
Vokiečių Street
One of the city’s
oldest, Vokiečių Street
resembles a park
during the summer
months, with its
outdoor cafés and a 0 metres 100
plea sant central tree-
lined walkway. 0 yards 100
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp304–305 and pp326–8

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