Vilnius Travel Guide

Vilnius Cathedral

The resplendent Vilnius Cathedral, which stands proudly on the central square of the Old City, has a chequered history that left it decaying and abandoned through the Soviet era. The Cathedral, which resembles a classical Greek temple more than it does a Christian church, is now once again the pride of the city, filled with awesome artworks, traditional icons and history. The cathedral, originally built in the 13th century, stands on the site of an ancient pagan temple, and has been rebuilt several times in the succeeding centuries after fires and storm damage. It contains more than 40 paintings and frescoes. Most noteworthy is the Casimir Chapel, first constructed in 1623, containing eight silver-plated statues and décor wrought by artist Constantino Tencallo.