48 hours in Vilnius: EU capital of culture and tradition
Published on
Story by
Jordi Cohen Colldeforns
Together with Linz in Austria, Vilnius is the first Baltic European capital of culture in 2009 - searching for its identity between old traditions, stag party tourists, modern loft and clubbing atmosphere and a young generation brought up after the 1991 independence of a state that celebrates its millenary this year
Graffiti by the Frank Zappa memorial
Old woman praying at the Bernardinai Church (old town)
Students celebrating the last day of school, near the bronze Angel of Užupis statue. Uzupis is an artistic neighborhood in the old town, with its own constitution and president. Uzupis declared itself independent from the state of Lithuania and its capital. The first article of the constitution states that ‘Here, everybody has the right to be happy’
Design week organised by the Lithuianian Design Forum on 15 May
Woman crossing Rudininku Street (old town)
Waitress on a cigarette break, old town
Funny walking adverts in Cathedral Square, the main square downtown
Design week organised by the Lithuianian Design Forum on 15 May
Boys playing basketball in the at the Vilnius Entertainment Park, a development zone with special planning permission for commercial, recreational and residential space, by the White Bridge
Men playing chess at Sereikiškės Park
Design week organised by the Lithuianian Design Forum on 15 May
Street musicians at Pilies (‘castle’) Street, a main road
Design week organised by the Lithuianian Design Forum on 15 May
Book exchange market at Sereikiškės Park
Design week organised by the Lithuianian Design Forum on 15 May
Participants of ‘1000 Boats Festival’ - a celebration of the European capital of culture 2009 programme on the river Neris. For the state millenary, the same number of boats were steered down the river by the city’s inhabitants
Friday afternoon. Boys skate at Cathedral Square
Accordionist at artist’s house in Uzupis Area
Boy skating in the entertainment zone. Near the White Bridge
Design week organised by the Lithuianian Design Forum on 15 May
Family in Vilnius’ old town
Near the White Bridge, in the entertainment zone with a Vilnius cultural capital 2009 sign
Bar at the Lithuanian Design Forum
Volleyball player near the White Bridge, Vilnius Entertainment Park
Pop art performance during the Design Week organised by the Lithuianian Design Forum on 15 May
Girls’ working picnic near the White Bridge, Vilnius Entertainment Park
'Borat Bachelor's farewell'. Gediminas Prospect, the most expensive street in Vilnius, by the central post office. Vilnius is a popular stag weekend destination
Newlyweds cross the Mindaugas Bridge, near Gediminas Castle
Carrying a glitter ball in the Uzupis district
Friday night fun at the ‘Woo’ club, Vilniaus 22