Riga: The City of Bridges!

Riga is a super cool capital city in a country called Latvia, way up in Northern Europe. It's like a big hug from the Baltic Sea! A big river, the Daugava, flows right through the middle, like a watery highway. The weather can be chilly in winter, with snow, and warm and sunny in summer, perfect for playing outside. It's a place with lots of green parks and beautiful old buildings.

Riga is really, really old! It was first built way back in 1201, which is older than your grandparents' grandparents! Over the years, lots of different people have lived here, like traders who brought goods from far away.

They built amazing churches and houses that are still standing today. It's like walking through a giant history book where every street tells a story of knights, kings, and everyday people.

Riga is famous for its amazing Old Town, which looks like a fairytale! It has winding streets and buildings with pointy roofs. Did you know Riga has some of the most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings in the world?

They have cool wavy lines and fancy decorations. People also love Riga for its delicious gingerbread cookies, called 'piparkūkas', and for the colorful flowers sold in the big market. It's a feast for your eyes and your tummy!

Lots of people call Riga home, about 605,000 of them! They speak Latvian, which sounds a bit like singing. Many people work in jobs that help the city run, like doctors, teachers, and people who build things. Riga is also a busy place for ships that bring and take away goods. It's a city where people work together to make it a wonderful place to live and visit, with lots of music and festivals.