Uzupis

Vilnius is not a standalone city. I didn't know this before getting to know the whole city. While roaming around I found about not only a new place, but the Republic of Uzupis, how they like to call it. 

Uzupis, which has its own constitution and not only, but you can also get a stamp on your passport, the official stamp on Uzupis, is a part of Vilnius but with a slightly different culture. I couldn't say that the people there are not usual, but I found out that people from different nationalities live there: from Italy, Russia, India, Germany and so on. 

Uzupis means “the place beyond the river”, and it is build on the other side of the river Vilnia, that river being the one that separates Vilnius from Uzupis.

The community is interesting, they also have pubs and shops like any other independent city. Their culture, as I said, is a bit weird. Why do I say this? Well, when entering Uzupis from the bridge next to the Church of St. Anne you can see on the right more than 3 pianos ( that do not work, of course ) on the road, one of them even on the shore of the river.

The place where I took the following pictures is right near the piano on the shore.

All of them are grouped in this part, and as you get far from this side of Uzupis, you cannot see any more pianos, but you can see different sculptures. And yes, the building in the next photo is inhabited. I know it may seem like another abandoned place, but it is not.

This style is characteristic in Uzupis, you cannot find tall buildings, only with two maybe three floors, but only that. No skyscrappers or penthouses there. A simple city with a culture that blends more cultures from different parts of the world.

And, as I said, Uzupis has its own constitution not only in one language, but in more languages such as Arabic, Russian, Romanian, and so on. It is translated, if I remember correctly, in more than 10 langauges. In the following picture, this is the constitution translated in Romanian.

The central point in Uzupis is a statue of an Angel. That Angel has also became the symbol of Uzupis. And also, from the point where this picture is taken, if one goes to the right you can find the best pizza from Uzupis and I can say the best pizza from Vilnius as well. So if you are tired of walking around and just want a break, you just try a bite.

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