Riga is not only the capital of Latvia, but also the biggest city and one of the main harbours in the country. It is the place where the tourists are given the opportunity to dip in the great atmosphere of the olden times, enjoy the magnificent historic monuments. It should be emphasized that Riga appears on the place of the ancient settlement of Livs, where the Ridzene River flows into the Duagava. It happened in the 12^th century, when German merchants established an outpost to conduct trading with the Baltic tribes and shipping goods from the Orient.

On the right bank of the Duagava there is the Medieval Old Town, impressing the visitors by the beauty of the twisted and narrow streets. Small houses with old-fashioned lanterns stand for the remarkable characteristic feature of the Ridzene Street. Rich history of the city and country is reflected in the architecture. The multistoried barns with coming to a point roofs, made of red tiles can still be found in the neighbouring streets. Riga is also the world known cultural centre.