Published on Jan, 2019
As a royal city, it was first mentioned in 1323, by Grand Duke Gediminas. Everyone who visits Vilnius, learns the legend about the Iron Wolf and Gediminas, the founder of the city. No wonder, the Gediminas Tower on the hill serves the emblem of Lithuania. Today the Old Town of Vilnius covers a large area. Its attractive lanes and enclosed backyards are easy to reach from the main Cathedral or Town Hall squares. The reconstructed Royal Palace in Cathedral Square recalls the local nobility and royal figures, and their simple human passions. The country's rulers stayed here - Grand Lithuanian Dukes and Polish Kings, the successors of Gediminas-Jagiellon house. Through relationship by marriage, they were connected to the outstanding royal families of Habsburg in Austria, Sforza in Milan, the Vasa dynasty in Sweden and others. Amazingly, a real love story took place here in the 16th century between king Sigismund August and the beautiful widow Barbara Radziwill (Barbora Radvilaite) from an influential Lithuanian noble family. The Queen Barbora nowadays was elected the most prominent woman of Lithuania of all times... Having passed the Church of St. Ann, a tiny masterpiece of Gothic style, you will reach the Republic of Uzupis, situated on the banks of the River Vilnia (Uzupis means "the place beyond the river"). This is Vilnius Montmartre, an area of artists and people with a sense of humour. You can find the key postulates of the Republic of Uzupis Constitution, displayed on the street wall, likewise: "Everyone has the right to be happy. Everyone has the right to be unique...", etc.