The beauty of Riga was totally unexpected. I am the kind of person who doesn’t really read the guide-book before going somewhere. Instead I get on the plane and start reading. At first the travel magazine and then my book. I got lucky with the magazine this time which had a long article on Riga. And it was here that I first read about the Art Noveau buildings of Riga.
I wasn’t sure if I really cared enough about it to walk in this area and look up some of these buildings (don’t @ me, I know I am a philistine). In any case already passing through the center I could see that these buildings and especially in this quantity were something special. So I took the time and sauntered through the Art Noveau area and my mouth just kept on hanging open. The opulence of the facades is in astonishing details; the different hairstyles of the women, the mystic animals and the overall richness is unbelievable. Yours, Pollybert
Two sphinxes are guarding the entrance. Here the sphinx in greater detail. I always thought that the sphinx had a nose like Cleopatra (at least Asterix taught me that) but upon closer look I really hope for her that it was not.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/419.jpg?resize=488%2C650&ssl=1)
sphinx in detail @Riga
Here it is dragons which are looking down on you. See the door with its portal in a close up below, including another close up of just the dragon.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/412.jpg?resize=650%2C488&ssl=1)
dragons on top of the doors @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/413.jpg?resize=488%2C650&ssl=1)
beautiful dragon with wings @Riga
This house looks like white and blue dream. Love the wavy hair of the woman below.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/427.jpg?resize=650%2C488&ssl=1)
white and blue dream house @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/430.jpg?resize=650%2C488&ssl=1)
a woman’s head towering over the entrance @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/396.jpg?resize=488%2C650&ssl=1)
three-dimensional dragons overlooking an entrance area @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/402.jpg?resize=488%2C650&ssl=1)
another confectioner’s dream @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/405.jpg?resize=650%2C488&ssl=1)
the cellar gets portholes and the facade has waves like features @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/407.jpg?resize=650%2C488&ssl=1)
female heads are standing attention on both sides of the balcony @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/403.jpg?resize=488%2C650&ssl=1)
this house still needs some renovations nonetheless looks like a small fortress @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/421.jpg?resize=650%2C488&ssl=1)
two females standing with lifted arms @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/444.jpg?resize=488%2C650&ssl=1)
it has something of modern art @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/423.jpg?resize=650%2C488&ssl=1)
Atlases holding up the balconies @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/449.jpg?resize=488%2C650&ssl=1)
female with a flower wreath @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/454.jpg?resize=650%2C488&ssl=1)
the bare-breasted women look haughty @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/463.jpg?resize=488%2C650&ssl=1)
facade of the Latvian National Theatre @Riga
![](https://i0.wp.com/pollybert.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/085.jpg?resize=650%2C488&ssl=1)
this looks like a male head to me @Riga