Immigration to Latvia: Riga, the capital of Latvia, is located on the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. Since its founding in 1200, it has been a major European trading hub. In the early 19th century, it was once the largest port city in Europe and a city with the most widespread higher education. Its complex history has created a multicultural atmosphere in Riga. What immediately catches the eye are the diverse architectural styles, ranging from Gothic and Renaissance to Baroque, as well as classical and modern forms. Today, the editor from Worldway will guide you through the romantic, legendary, and multicultural Latvia.
Strolling along the cobblestone streets of the Old Town, every building seems to want to tell you its own ancient story. The 14th-century St. Peter's Church remains the tallest and most dazzling building in the city today. In fact, whether in the Old Town or the New Town, all of Riga is like an exquisite architectural museum. Rundāle Palace, located not far south of Riga, can in some sense be considered a microcosm of it.
Rundāle Palace is a magnificent summer residence of the Dukes of Courland in Latvia. It blends architectural styles from multiple countries. The Duke employed a thousand craftsmen to begin construction in 1736, with the goal of expanding his influence and showcasing his incomparable power. Rundāle Palace has over 40 rooms of various sizes. It now serves as a venue for Latvian state banquets. The construction of Rundāle Palace brought together the finest interior decorators from across Europe at the time; thus, one can see European Rococo carvings, German-style floral stucco decorations, Dutch-style glazed tiles, and a garden that is a miniature version of the Palace of Versailles in France. It can be said that this is a palace that gathers the treasures of many.
While carefully preserving traditional architecture, Latvians also uphold their national traditions. The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia, located on the outskirts of Riga, is a massive folk village that collected 120 wooden houses from the country's four major regions in the 19th century. Upon entering this 1520-acre folk village, one is immediately transported back to the rural life of Latvia in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is this tradition that has forged generation after generation of "steady and reliable Latvians," who are highly praised by the world.
A romantic affinity for nature has enabled Latvians to create a unique side to their lives.
