Recharge in Vilnius

We start our Vilnius tour from Cathedral square where one can observe the beautiful Neo-Classical Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Ladislaus. Then we whisk out through the narrow streets to observe the Presidential Palace and the Old Vilnius University, founded in 1579. We’ll stroll along the streets of the medieval Jewish Quarter of Vilnius, called by many Lithuanian Jerusalem. Will speak about a Yiddish theatre, rabbinical council and the place where Theodor Herzl stayed during his visit to Vilnius. We’ll learn about the Benedictine convent and the story of saving 12 Jewish souls by Lithuanian Righteous Among the Nations. In Vilnius Ghetto streets, we’ll see Vilna Gaon‘s house and the spot where the Great Synagogue once stood.  The Large Ghetto and the sad story of suffering, resistance, and struggle. The Judenrat office and the drama of “choiceless choices”. Former Ghetto theatre – the center of the spiritual resistance. Our Vilnius Tour continues with a visit to Vilnius Synagogue, built in 1903 in the Moorish Romanesque style. Visit the Jewish State Museum, a.k.a. the Tolerance Centre, to learn the history of Lithuanian Jewry. We will also visit an art gallery of the Jewish American artist Samuel Bak.  We will return back to the Old City to see the City hall square, numerous art and amber galleries, linen and souvenir shops. We will reach the southern border of our once-walled city, and admire the Russian monastery of the Holy Spirit, the Greek Catholic Church of Holy Trinity and the Zenith of Christian Vilnius – the “Gate of Dawn”.  The Chapel over the gate guards a famous icon of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, believed to have miraculous powers.

Morning departures to Ponar forest and Holocaust memorial – the site of the extermination of 100 thousand people, among them 70 thousand Jews. Continue to Trakai – the land of lakes and forests. We visit the ancient capital and the seat of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, with its 14th-century picturesque castle. Today, it houses an immersive museum of Lithuanian history and tells the story of the Karaite ethnic minority in the region. 

After lunch we back to Vilnius sights such as the pearl of Baroque architecture – St. Peter and Paul’s Church. This unique church contains more than 2000 impressive statues and bas-reliefs. Not all of the churches were open during the Soviet period, but this one remained untouched and served as a Catholic prayer house.

Drive to Gediminas boulevard to see the Parliament and the impressive monument in memory of revolutionary events of 1991. Next, stop at a spacious square, once a Tatar suburb of the city – many fairs and markets took place on this spot. From here, we often refer to the former KGB building and the sad story of Stalin’s repressions.