First mentioned in historical sources in 1323 by the Grand Duke Gediminas, Vilnius has grown into a medieval capital city with radial network of meandering streets, pretty courtyards and an impressive array of architecture. The buildings of the Old Town (there are about 1500 of them) were built over a number of centuries making it a mix of different architectural styles – from Gothic to Classicism. Nevertheless, Vilnius is often referred to as a Baroque city, the largest one north of the Alps. The Baroque style of Vilnius was influenced by the architecture of Italy and Central Europe; the artists from Florence and other European cities formed the unique Vilnius Baroque school, which is also known as the “last flash of the late Baroque in Europe”.
In 1994 the Vilnius historic centre was included into the UNESCO World Heritage List. Strolling through Vilnius there is a nice mix of classic and modern and some excellent dining options should not be missed (the sushi rocked and Bistro 18 was awesome). Unfortunately it was a bit hasty, which did give Vilnius a mysterious vibe but rendered the visit to the TV tower useless (unless you want to experience the unfriendly side of Vilnius then it comes highly recommended). One more tip for Vilnius; avoid the maffia type taxis in Vilnius and find yourself a Smart Taxi, they are friendly and modern and offer fair prices.
