The Oldest Market in Vilnius and Cool Street Art

When visiting the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, chances are you might get tired of walking around touristy old town locations and might start wondering if there’s a lighter side to this great, although at first glance somewhat serious, cultural city.

And I am here to tell you that, of course, there is.

So here's a short proposed tour in the oldest market in the city and some cool street art in the area.

Just outside the old town, which, no doubt, you’ll be visiting, there’s Halės Turgus (Halės Market), the oldest market in the capital. Don't worry, it's not one of those markets built for tourists, locals actually shop there :)

But first...

...as you approach the main entrance of Halės Market, you'll definitely notice this cool mural overlooking the market entrance from across the street.

Did you know that only a few years ago this mural was created by a famous Italian street artist Millo?

Millo loves painting urban scenes and this one is no exception, reflecting the busy atmosphere of this vibrant corner of Vilnius.

So snap a few great pictures for your steemit, instagram and other feeds, cross the street and head to the oldest market in the city...

... Halės Turgus.

There’s been a market in this particular location since the 15th century, where people first used to sell horses and later on grain.

The building you see today, was constructed just over a 100 years ago at the very start of the 20th century and today it is one of the city’s most popular places for grocery shopping.

Someone called this market as a ‘great mix of gentrified foodie stalls and everyday local market’ which, I think, is a spot on description.

It’s true, you’ll find all sorts of everyday local specialties - sausages, bread, cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables. Everything that you’d expect from a local market where the locals do their daily shopping.

BUT

As a visitor to the city, you’ll also enjoy the little cafes and specialty food stalls dotted here and there inside the covered market where you can sample freshly baked pastries, try out Lithuanian variety of bagels (did you know they’ve been around in Lithuania since the 19th century?) and sample some delicious coffees and teas.

AND

If you visit the market on a Sunday, now you can enjoy even a more enhanced market experience. Since August 2018 some enterprising market enthusiasts started organizing a local produce market on Pylimo street running along the Halės Market.

So if it’s Sunday in Vilnius, visit a market!

After all, traditionally, Sunday has always been a market day in this country.

After you've had your fill of some delicious and some unusual Lithuanian food as well as freshly made pastries and coffee, it’s time to discover some more fun street art murals in the area.

As you walk further up Pylimo g. (Pylimo street) by the side of the market, almost at the very end of the street where it reaches the railway, turn around and look towards where you came from and voila!

A cool and colourful mural by Os Gemeos (‘The Twins’ in Portuguese).

The duo who painted this fun mural is a family affair from Brazil– they are identical twins with very special ties connecting them with Lithuania. It turns out their grandad was Lithuanian!

So to mark this very personal story the duo depicted their grandad sitting in the giant’s hand. What a fun way to remember your family members!

On the same side of the street you’ll find the most famous of Vilnius’ murals – a kiss between two famous world leaders…

When it was first painted, this mural appeared in many world media outlets, including The New York Times.

Originally, the two leaders shared a kiss, but after the mural was vandalized, it seems they started sharing a 'shotgun'…

The mural is a satirical take on the famous Berlin Wall mural, where a kiss was shared by two other world leaders with a qoute reading My God, Help Me To Survive This Deadly Love…

So after pondering a bit on the world politics and how everything may play out in the future, continue up Pylimo street until you reach the railway, then turn left and walk along the street to the first crossroads.

When you approach the busy crossroads, you’ll see some more fun street art brightening up a very dull city corner.

The three pieces look like they’ve been painted by the same artist, but they are actually the creations of three separate Polish artists.

Krik Kong created the middle piece with a bald guy, Seikon authored the one on the right and Szyman painted the one on the left.

Apparently, when they were young they used to belong to underground groups which painted murals illegally, but none of them ended up in prison for vandalism. Fast forward many years and now their murals are considered art. Times change!

The three murals compliment each other very well and look particularly fun on dreary and dark winter days.

So when you go to sample some local food in Halės market, spare some time for a stroll around the area and discover some cool street murals by local and international artists. Your Steemit followers will love it!

Visit Vilnius, enjoy your life!

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