Iļģuciems

Iļģuciems is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Riga. History of this neighborhood dates back to the early 13th century. Back in 1236 a small manor was built here and given the name of Hiligen geest hove (Heiligen Geist Hof) in English meaning - "Holy Spirit Convent", from which latter originated name Iļģuciems in Latvian - at first Hilgzeem, then Ilgezeem and finally Iļģuciems. Unfortunately less has left over from those days. In our days much of Iļguciems is dominated by Soviet-style block…