Basilica of Aglona is situated in South-East of Latgale in Aglona – a small beautiful town in Preiļi district, 25 km from Preiļi city and 40 km from Daugavpils, the second biggest city in Latvia. This church is an internationally significant sacral place and part of the cultural and historical heritage of Latvia, as well as a destination of religious pilgrimages. The Basilica of Aglona is used only for religious and spiritual events defined by the Latvian Catholic Church.  Aglona developed into the catholic centre of Latgale starting from 1700, when a Dominican monastery was established here and monks built a wooden church as a part of the monastery. Although the church burnt down soon afterwards, a new masonry monastery and a baroque style church were built in its place during the period from 1765 to 1780. This church with two 60m high steeples has remained intact down to the present day and assembles thousands of pilgrims who come to Aglona for the grandiose events, public services and solemn processions taking place every year on the Ascension Day of Blessed Maria. Another attraction is the altar piece of Aglona - “The Miracle-worker Our Lady of Aglona” to which healing qualities have been ascribed. This icon is being uncovered only in ceremonious activities when religious celebrations are taking place. The impressive basilica is known also for its interior, made in 18th and 19th century, and attracts not only pilgrims but also art lovers and tourists. The splendid interior draws attention with its professional decorations and its high artistic value. Church furniture items – confessional, pulpit, organ and benches are made in 18th century, side altars at the beginning of 19th century. There is also an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures and other art assets at the Basilica, as well as a cult spring within its territory the healing qualities of which were discovered in 1820.  Nowadays, the water of the spring runs into three nearby ponds and has a light green hue and an explicit smell of hydrogen sulphide. In 1993 the Basilica of Aglona was visited and blessed by the Pope John Paul II.  Additional information: www.aglona.lv

The coastline of Latvia is 494 kilometers long and mostly comprised of white and sandy beaches, stretching in a unique length along the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. The sands of the beach are white and fine and in summer is a real paradise for holidaymakers. If you prefer peaceful relaxation in a quiet environment, go away from big cities and tourist resorts. In the beautiful beaches of Kurzeme (the western region of Latvia) you will have the feeling as if you were at the end of world, as the only thing you will see will be wide open sea, space, and long untouched white sand shores along the sea. This is the perfect place for a peaceful rest without the surrounding hustle and bustle. When going away from the city, it might be more difficult to find a place for lunch or dinner, so picnic would be the most appropriate choice of meal. It shouldn’t be forgotten though, that bonfires are not allowed on the beaches (except for special campsite territories), as well as litter must be gathered after the meal in order to let visitors after you enjoy the same wonderful feeling of carelessness and cleanliness.  If you wish to enjoy sunbathing and water fun in bigger company or you simply do not have that much time to go to more remote places, you may prefer the resort city of Latvia – Jurmala. Here you will find an excellent sand beach stretching along the shore from Riga to the very calm and serene beaches of Kurzeme. After relaxation at the sea you can have refreshments or a meal at one of the numerous pubs or restaurants in Jurmala.

The seashore of the Baltic has always been alluring with the possibility of finding bright yellow, red or golden sparkling pieces of amber of different sizes and shapes. Amber is also called the stone of Sun or the Baltic gold, and in the past it really had the value of gold. The largest quantity of the total amber resources in the world (around 80%) lies in Baltic Sea, and the city of Liepaja takes pride in amber beads considered to be the longest in the world (123 m). If you don’t feel like looking for amber yourself, you can buy some charming amber products made by Latvian jewelers. Be careful though not to pick a piece of phosphorus that in terms of its form and colour resembles amber to such an extent that even experts have difficulty seeing the difference. White phosphorus is less transparent than amber, it has a grayish shade and it may flare up in warmth causing serious burns.

Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Festival takes place every five years, when the best Latvian choirs and folk dance ensembles gather together and join in canorous songs and dances. Up to 26 000 participants perform at the closing concert of Song and Dance Festival – 13 000 singers and 13 000 dancers. Such non-professional choir community singing and performance of dance ensembles is no more to be seen in other places of the world.  The first Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Festival took place in 1873 with 45 choirs taking part. 2008 will see the 24th Latvian Nationwide Song and 14th Dance Festival take place with about 30 000 participants. In November 2003, the Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Festival was included into UNESCO List of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage as one of the cultural miracles in need of protection and preservation.  Next Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Celebration will take place 2013.

Latvia is a good destination for family trips—it caters for the interests of different groups and ages, offering excellent opportunities for spending time together in a relaxed environment. You have a wide range of choices for different active recreation events, hikes in pristine nature, as well as cultural, sport, and entertainment events. Ferry traffic allows you to bring your car along. Very attractive for traveling is the seashore of Kurzeme famous for its magnificent intact landscape, mild and windy maritime climate. A great travel destination is also the lake-rich regions of Latgale and Vidzeme. Ancient country bath house, fishing, boat passages, solstice celebrations held in folklore traditions – all this and much more will allow every guest to fully rest from the everyday stress and obtain new, unforgettable impressions.  Additional information about entertainment places in the section “Recreation & Sport”. Additional information about different cultural activities in the section “Culture & Art”.