Riga is an ancient and beautiful city in Europe. It is the capital city of Latvia, officially founded in 1201. The history of Riga City is more than eight hundred years long, and it has an abundance of dramatic events stored in countless volumes of works and monuments, legends, songs, memoirs and tales. At the end of the 12th century, crusaders came here as well when the German merchants tried to widen and strengthen their area of activities along the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. In the 13th century trade boomed in Riga, and it became one of the main intermediaries between the West and the East.
Industry rapidly grew in Riga during the second half of the 18th century. In the 19th century Riga became one of the main seaports of the Russian Empire and an important railway transport junction. During the second half of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century the area of Riga increased 10 times, in 1913 the number of inhabitants was 80 times higher than in the beginning of the 18th century. In 1991, Latvia was independent and Riga became the capital of the country.
Total number of residents in Riga is 632 614. Riga, covering an area of 307.17 km2, is located along the Baltic Sea at the southern coast of the Gulf of Riga, on the Rigava coastal plain. The historical core of Riga is situated on the right bank of the Daugava River, about 10 kilometers from where the Daugava flows into the Gulf of Riga. The natural terrain of this area is a flat and sandy plain, about 1 to 10 meters above the sea level. Climate in Riga is influenced by its proximity to the sea; therefore it is moderately warm and humid.
Everyone visiting Riga for the first time should start by visiting the city's main landmarks. It is best to start getting to know the city, more than 800-year history long, with a walk through the Old Town and continue in the so-called quiet center district of Riga, enjoying the magnificent Art Nouveau architecture. Culture and art lovers should definitely plan a visit to the Latvian National Museum of Art and the Latvian National Opera and Ballet. For those who enjoy the city through food, the list of places to visit should definitely include the Riga Central Market and Kalnciems Quarter Market. The more contemporary side of Riga is best enjoyed at the most important building constructed this century, the National Library of Latvia.
The Old Town has highly diverse architecture, and the majority of buildings have the status of a cultural monument. The city's architecture represents various periods, including Romanticism, Gothic, Baroque, Classicism, and Modernism. After the restoration of the independence of Latvia, many buildings in the Old Town were reconstructed or rebuilt to restore the historic look of the area.
The most impressive buildings in the Old Town are the Riga Cathedral and St. Peter's Church, offering a wonderful panoramic view on the city of Riga from an observational tower of 72 meters high. The Old Town's streets and squares have numerous restaurants and cafes for all tastes.
Riga is the 3rd largest city in Northern Europe with 1.1 million inhabitants in the Riga metropolitan area. It is the bridge between large markets of Europe and Asia, and the link between CEE and Northern Europe. And it is an open and safe place for investments.
Main sub-sectors include IT, finance, customer service, logistics, personnel management and procurement, smart materials and photonics, thin layers and coatings, energy harvesting and storage, life science, as well as products of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber and plastic products, biotechnology, coating materials, and cosmetics.
