Riga

Riga is the capital of Latvia, built along the Daugava River about 15 kilometres from the Baltic Sea. The old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has cobblestone streets, medieval churches, and guild houses with stepped gable roofs. St. Peter's Church has an elevator to its spire, which gives a good view over the rooftops. The House of the Blackheads, originally built in the 14th century and reconstructed after wartime damage, is the most photographed building on the main square. Alberta Street, a few blocks north of the old town, has the densest concentration of Art Nouveau facades in Europe, with ornamental faces, floral motifs, and balconies covering nearly every surface. The Central Market, housed in five former Zeppelin hangars near the river, sells fish, produce, dairy, and Latvian rye bread. Riga Black Balsam, a dark herbal liqueur, is sold everywhere and makes a portable souvenir. The currency is the euro, and the city has reliable trams and buses.