Highlights of Vilnius, Lithuania

University of Vilnius was established in 1568.  It began as 12 buildings and today it has expanded to much of the old town. 

Part of the University campus, the Church of the Sts. John was originally built in the 14th century and was reconstructed in 1737 and 1749 after fires.  During World War II, the Nazis used the church for medical storage and closed to religious practice.

Church of St. Anne (1495) was constructed of 33 varieties of bricks.  There is a story that it was a favorite of Napoleon who wanted to put the church in his pocket and return it to Paris with him.  It is considered extremely plain on the inside, so it is not often visited.  

One of the original gates of the medieval city of Vilnius.  This was the merchant's entrance to the city.  Most of the city gates and the walls were torn down as the city expanded and the walls of the city became less necessary.

At the top of the gate, the symbol of the city including St. George defending the city.  St. George is a commonly selected patron among the Baltic states.

The cobblestone street just inside the city gate.

The reason that this gate was not destroyed was because of the chapel built above the gate facing inside the city.  It was not uncommon for the space above gates to be used for a variety of  shops, offices, and chapels as space within medieval city walls would be limited.  In the case of this chapel, there is local legends of miracles associated with this chapel.