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Lithuania is 100 years old, 100 events to celebrate
'Time machine' in Vilnius, which will go back to a century ago
15 February, 19:56
(ANSA) - VILNIUS - There are ''a hundred more reasons'' to
visit Lithuania in 2018, apart from its beautiful parks,
crystalline lakes, ancient castles, endless white beaches and
its charming capital Vilnius. This year the Baltic republic
celebrates 100 years of independence and, as announced by the
national tourism department, wants to mark this centenary with
events, exhibitions and concerts. One hundred events of all
kinds, to celebrate the anniversary and attract tourists.
The celebration will begin in the second decade of February 2018, which was named 'Time Machine' in Vilnius. The capital city will be transformed into what the city was on February 16, 1918, when, after centuries of Polish, Russian and German occupation, Lithuania enjoyed for the first time its national freedom. The street signs will be replaced with those dating back to 100 years ago, in the restaurants will be served vintage dishes and specialties and the musicians will play live the melodies and songs which were popular the end of the WW1. ''All in the city will take back inhabitants and tourists to that distant past'', said Karolis ukauskas, councillor of the municipality of the Baltic capital. The independence of Lithuania did not last long and soon the country ended up under communism, then Nazism, then again under the rule of Moscow, and had to wait until 1991, with the fall of the Soviet Union, to regain freedom.
Tourism in Lithuania has grown In the last decade at a rate of 10% per year, and the 2018 celebrations - the organizers are hoping - should make the Baltic country one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, with the opening of many new historical and cultural sites, free excursions, a lot of entertainment, a hundred music festivals in the white summer nights. The Department for Tourism has prepared an interactive map to allow visitors to design their own itinerary among the numerous events and the natural, artistic, religious not to be missed sites: simtmeciomarsrutas.lt/en/. Among these sites is the legendary 'Hill of Crosses', not far from Siauliai, in northern Lithuania: thousands of crosses that were mysteriously planted more than two centuries ago. The Soviets tried to raze them to the ground with their tanks. But the residents, every night, defying the military patrols at their own risk, planted new ones.(ANSA).
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The celebration will begin in the second decade of February 2018, which was named 'Time Machine' in Vilnius. The capital city will be transformed into what the city was on February 16, 1918, when, after centuries of Polish, Russian and German occupation, Lithuania enjoyed for the first time its national freedom. The street signs will be replaced with those dating back to 100 years ago, in the restaurants will be served vintage dishes and specialties and the musicians will play live the melodies and songs which were popular the end of the WW1. ''All in the city will take back inhabitants and tourists to that distant past'', said Karolis ukauskas, councillor of the municipality of the Baltic capital. The independence of Lithuania did not last long and soon the country ended up under communism, then Nazism, then again under the rule of Moscow, and had to wait until 1991, with the fall of the Soviet Union, to regain freedom.
Tourism in Lithuania has grown In the last decade at a rate of 10% per year, and the 2018 celebrations - the organizers are hoping - should make the Baltic country one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, with the opening of many new historical and cultural sites, free excursions, a lot of entertainment, a hundred music festivals in the white summer nights. The Department for Tourism has prepared an interactive map to allow visitors to design their own itinerary among the numerous events and the natural, artistic, religious not to be missed sites: simtmeciomarsrutas.lt/en/. Among these sites is the legendary 'Hill of Crosses', not far from Siauliai, in northern Lithuania: thousands of crosses that were mysteriously planted more than two centuries ago. The Soviets tried to raze them to the ground with their tanks. But the residents, every night, defying the military patrols at their own risk, planted new ones.(ANSA).
