Riga is the capital of the Republic of Latvia and the geographical centre of the Baltic States. The city's cross-roads location between Western Europe and huge Eastern markets has always been - and still is - one of Riga's attractions for business activities.
Riga was established as a trading settlement in 1201 by a group of German Crusaders under the leadership of the bishop of Livonia. In 1282 it joined the Hanseatic League, an association of German merchant communities. Riga came under Polish control in 1581. It was captured by Sweden in 1621 and by Russia in 1709–10. Under Russian rule it became a trading and industrial center inhabited by Russians. The end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 90s brought the toppling of the Soviet Empire, and after many struggles, Latvia declared its full de facto independence on August 21, 1991.
Climate in Riga is influenced by its proximity to the sea; therefore it is moderately warm and humid. Summers are comparatively cool and cloudy, average temperature in July is +16°C (60.8°F). Winters are comparatively warm with frequent thaws and average temperature in January – 4°C (24.8°F). Snow cover forms in the middle of December and remain through the middle of March. About 40% of the days in a year are cloudy, average precipitation is 700-720 mm a year.
Foreign commercial trade through Riga has been on the increase in recent years and received new impetus on May 1 in 2004 when Latvia became a member of the European Union. Riga accounts for about half of the total industrial output of Latvia, focusing on the financial sector, printing and publishing, food and beverages, textiles and furniture, public utilities, wood processing, pharmaceuticals, and communications equipment manufacturing. The port of Riga is an important cargo shipping center.
After nine years of basic education, secondary education is provided in general secondary schools (3 years), vocational schools (2 to 3 years), and vocational secondary schools (4 years). General secondary schools award the Certificate of General Secondary Education. Vocational secondary schools award a Diploma of Vocational Secondary Education which is also valid for university entrance. Higher education institutions confer academic degrees and professional higher education qualifications. Academic higher education programmes are based upon fundamental and/or applied science; they usually comprise a thesis at the end of each stage and lead to the degrees of Bakalaurs (Bachelor) and Magistrs (Master). According to the Law on Professional Education and the Law on Higher Education Establishments there are several types of higher professional education programmes in Latvia - first-level professional higher education programmes (also called college programmes) and second level professional higher education programmes which are considered as "completed" professional higher education and lead to the second-level professional higher education. University of Latvia is the oldest university in Latvia located in Riga.
Riga has a well-developed and relatively cheap public transport system that consists of buses, minibuses, trams and trolley buses. Final destinations are marked on the front of all transport vehicles. Taxis are readily available; it is worth noting that licensed cabs will have a yellow number plate. Riga's ferry terminal is located outside the city centre and the central train station will take commuters to destinations such as Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
The city is well known for its architectural and cultural values, skilful labor and developed infrastructure. You can discover the charms of Riga's Old Town and perhaps see some of the stunning architecture of the Art Nouveau District. Riga’s Old Town (Vecriga in Latvian) has a bit for everyone hiding within its Kafkaesque medieval streets. The best place to start would be the Town Hall Square (Ratslaukums) at the end of Kalku Street. The Museum of Occupations, the rebuilt Town Hall, and the stunning House of Blackheads, also rebuilt after the Second World War, surround the square. Riga is one of the largest centres of Art Nouveau, with more than a third of the buildings of its Central District built in the style.
The main street for Riga’s Art Nouveau district is Elizabetes, which intersects Brivibas Boulevard. In addition to Elizabetes Street, Alberta and Strelnieku Streets also feature impressive examples of the style. In total, there are over 800 Art Nouveau buildings in Riga, but finding them all would be quite an ambitious undertaking, so we’ll try to guide you to the most noteworthy ones. Housed in a startling dark grey, box-shaped building in the middle of Riga's Town Hall Square, the Occupation Museum includes exhibitions of documents leading to Latvia's occupation, events of the two Soviet occupations and the intervening Nazi occupation, and the struggle that resulted in Latvian independence on 21 August 1991.
The Open Air Ethnographic Museum is a fascinating reflection of the traditional Latvian way of life. Set on 247 acres (100ha), the museum consists of farmhouses, fishing villages, windmills and other historic buildings that have been relocated here to create an outdoor exhibit.
Dating back to 1211, the red brick Dom (or Dome) Protestant Cathedral is a highlight of the historic centre of Riga. The cathedral is situated near the Western Daugava River and boasts an incredible organ with over 6,500 pipes built in 1844.
The Riga Zoo is remarkable, distinctively set in a pine-tree forest. Riga Zoo offers plenty of diversions for animal lovers and, as well as the aforementioned 'biggies', excellent collections of insects, birds, amphibians and grazing animals can be seen and admired. It’s also a good place to see animals you’re like Tibetan wild donkeys. The zoo and the surrounding Forest Park are favourite strolling grounds for area residents.
Riga Opera Festival takes place in the Latvian National Opera and features the best in international and Latvian opera.
The Latvian Song and Dance Festival is the mother of them all when it comes to huge events in Riga. The festival is over a century old, and is as much a celebration of Latvian pride as it is of music - though the music consists of huge choirs and dance groups singing and dancing their hearts out, as well as a large number of art exhibitions, parades and also some contemporary rock and pop concerts taking place.
