Rīga: vēsture un tūrisma objekti

Changes of total number of inhabitants, thousands 14.8 9.8 9.5

Riga’s inhabitants have always been proud of the achievements of their contemporaries who have made the city known around the world. Many dynamic and different personalities have lived in Riga, each of whom has worked in accordance with their own understanding, conviction and the temper of their times. Some have grown up in Riga and then left for the wider world (the ballet dancer Barishnikov), while others have come from far away to devote their life to Riga (Bishop Albert). Some have made only brief whirlwind appearances but they are still remembered in Riga (the composer Wagner). Others have walked the streets of Riga barefoot all their lives and have only been discovered by Riga late in the day (the painter Irbe). Different times, different people, joined together by Riga.