Riga Photo Gallery - St. Peter's Church

St. Peter's Church was first mentioned in the early 13th century, although today's church is the product of many reconstructions. It is said that Peter the Great tried to save it from fire in 1721, but the spire was destroyed. Tradition says the church's lifespan can be told by throwing glass from the top to see how many pieces it will break into. The more pieces, the longer life it will be.

The spire was destroyed again during World War II. This time, the glass test upon reconstruction was a success.

I came for a view of the city from the steeple's viewing platform.

The unobstructed view is a must-see. You can easily spot some of the city's key attractions, such as the zeppelin hangars that are now part of the Central Market. The Academy of Sciences to the left is nicknamed "Stalin's birthday cake" and screams Soviet style. On the other side of the river is the Radio and TV Tower that rises 368m tall.

On the other side is the Old Town, including Riga Cathedral, the largest medieval church in the Baltic with a mix of styles from the 13th to 18th centuries.