Riga

The capital of Latvia, Riga, lies on the Baltic Sea. The Vecrīga is the old center of the city. On the one hand, it houses the oldest buildings and churches, while on the other, it is filled with nightlife, restaurants, and the like. The city is perhaps the world capital of Art Nouveau architecture, with over 800 buildings having been built in this style, which was prevalent in the early 20th century. Many of these can be found on Albert Street. The House of the Blackheads, which was built by an association of unmarried merchants in 1330, was once the center of party activity in the city. Although it was bombed during WWII, it has been completely restored, while its vault is still the original, having survived the attack. It is one of the several unique sights on Town Square. The most notable monument is the Freedom Monument, built in 1935 to commemorate soldiers that fell battling Soviet forces during the Latvian War of Independence.