The document provides a comprehensive overview of Lithuania, discussing its geographical location, cultural heritage, and historical ties with various countries, including Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, and others. It highlights significant landmarks, cultural exchanges, and shared characteristics between Lithuania and each of the welcomed nations, emphasizing both similarities and differences. Key points include Lithuania's artistic contributions, architectural sites, and its vibrant history of tolerance and diversity.

1. So Different So Similar
Lithuania welcomes
Belgium | Canada | Cyprus | Czeck Republic | Croatia | Denmark |
Estonia | Finland | France | Greece | Hungary | Ireland | Israel | Italy |
Malta | Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Romania | Russia | Slovenia |
Spain | Sweden | Turkey | United Kingdom | United States

2. LITHUANIA
•3.000.000 population
•At the Baltic Sea
•In the geografical
centre of Europe
•Surrounded by
Belarus, Poland, Latvia
and Kaliningrad
•Lithuanians – 80 %
•Roman Catholics – 80 %
http://www.istanbul-city-guide.com/map/lithuania-map

3. VILNIUS
•Founded in 1323
•Situated on the confluence
of two rivers among 5 hills
•Included into UNESCO World
Heritage list
•500.000 population
•Lithuanians – 60 %, Poles –
18 %, Russians – 14 %
•2 castles, the old University,
Antique Town Hall square
•~60 churches and chapels

4. Lithuania Welcomes: BELGIUM
And presents:
Monasteries in Vilnius
There are more than 20 monasteries in Vilnius.
The Community of St.John in Vilnius was
founded in 1993 by Belgian monks. Now they
reside in the Trinitarian Convent and Church of
the Redeemer.

5. So Different and So Similar:
Belgium and Lithuania
René Magritte
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
Belgian Chocolate
Lithuanian Chocolate

6. Lithuania Welcomes: CANADA
And presents:
2013 September in mapple city Vilnius:
Lithuania’s EU presidency

7. So Different and So Similar:
Canada and Lithuania
Mapple leaves in Canada and in Lithuania

8. Lithuania Welcomes: CYPRUS
And presents:
KIPRAS PETRAUSKAS and
OPERA in LITHUANIA
Kipras Petrauskas, who’s
name means Cyprus in
Lithuanian, was the most
famous opera singer in
the country.
The first opera in
Lithuania was shown in
1636; 10 years before it
was first shown in
France, England or Spain.

9. So Different and So Similar:
Cyprus and Lithuania
Orange bikes in Vilnius
Orange bikes in Nicosia
Defensive wall and
Gate of the Dawn,
Vilnius
Defensive wall and
Famagusta Gate,
Nicosia

10. Lithuania Welcomes: CROATIA
And presents: Lower Castle
Castles in Vilnius
Upper Castle

11. So Different and So Similar:
Croatia and Lithuania
Vilnius roofs
Zagreb roofs
Vilnius
Zagreb

12. Lithuania Welcomes:
THE CZECH REPUBLIC
And presents:
Amber – Lithuanian gold
Amber Road
Jantarová stezka
In Roman times, a main route ran south from
the Baltic coast in through the land of the Boii
(modern Czech Republic and Slovakia) to the
head of the Adriatic Sea (modern Gulf of
Venice).

13. So Different and So Similar:
The Czech Republic and Lithuania
Czech beer
Lithuanian beer
Charles Bridge, Prague
Green Bridge, Vilnius

14. Lithuania Welcomes: DENMARK
And presents:
Republic of UŽUPIS,
Christiania of
Vilnius

15. So Different and So Similar:
Denmark and Lithuania
The Queen of Denmark
President of Lithuania
Mermaids in Vilnius and Copenhague

16. Lithuania Welcomes: Estonia
And presents:
The fight for independence
The Baltic Chain
23 August 1989
2.5 million Lithuanians,
Latvians and Estonians
joined for the life chain
from Vilnius to Tallinn
13 January 1991
12 peacefull young men and
1 women were killed by
the soviet tanks.

17. So Different and So Similar:
Estonia and Lithuania
Tallinn by night Summer concert place in Tallinn (above)
and Vilnius (below)
Vilnius by night

18. Lithuania Welcomes: FINLAND
And presents:
The president of Lithuania
Ms Dalia GRYBAUSKAITĖ
The only female president in Europe
Tarja Halonen

19. So Different and So Similar:
Finland and Lithuania
Helsinki
Laivas
University
Laiva
Paršas
Porsas Vilnius President
Palace
Pirtis
Pirtti

20. Lithuania Welcomes: FRANCE
And presents:
St. Anne’s Church and
Gothics in Vilnius
Napoleon was so hardly
enamored by the beauty of
St. Anne’s Church that he
wished to take it to Paris
with him on the palm of his
hand.

21. So Different and So Similar:
France and Lithuania
Vilnius TV tower and
Eiffel Tower

22. Lithuania Welcomes: GREECE
And presents:
The Cathedral Basilica
Similar to Greek temple

23. So Different and So Similar:
Greece and Lithuania
Akropolis in Vilnius
Acropolis in Athens
Cathedral in Vilnius
Greek Catholic Church
in Vilnius

24. Lithuania Welcomes: HUNGARY
And presents:
The Hills of Vilnius
Bekesz hill

25. So Different and So Similar:
Hungary and Lithuania
Stephen Batory
Club13 in
Budapest

26. Lithuania Welcomes: IRELAND
And presents:
Parks and Green areas

27. So Different and So Similar:
Ireland and Lithuania
National flower: Rue and Clover
Bridge in
Dublin
Bridge in
Vilnius

28. Lithuania Welcomes: ISRAEL
Lithuania and Vilnius was extremely
tolerant to Jews for ages.
And presents: Jewish community constitued up to
Jerusalem of North 45 % of Vilnius population; more than
100 sinagogues operated here.
Vilnius is famous for Vilna Gaon.

29. So Different and So Similar:
Israel and Lithuania
Jerusalem in Israel
Jeruzalė in Vilnius
Great Sinagogue in Tel Aviv
Choral Sinagogue in Vilnius
Hanukkah in Israel
Hanukkah in Vilnius

30. Lithuania Welcomes: ITALY
And presents:
St. Peter and St. Paul Church
and Vilnius Baroque

31. So Different and So Similar:
Italy and Lithuania
She-wolf founded Il Gesu in
Rome Rome
St. Therese
in Vilnius
Vilnius Renessaince and Italian Renessaince
Iron Wolf founded
Vilnius

32. Lithuania Welcomes: MALTA
And presents:
NGOs in Lithuania
There are more than 14.000
NGOs in Lithuania
The Order of Malta is one of the
biggest and most famous NGOs

33. So Different and So Similar:
Malta and Lithuania
Fest of St. Paul in
Malta and fest of
St. Casimir in
Vilnius

34. Lithuania Welcomes:
THE NETHERLANDSThe banks of love
And presents:
FLOWERS IN VILNIUS

35. So Different and So Similar:
The Netherlands and Lithuania
Bastion of Vilnius
Defensive Line of
Red lights Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Red lights Vilnius

36. Lithuania Welcomes: POLAND
And presents:
The Gates of Dawn
Rute of Piligrims
John Paul II in Vilnius

37. So Different and So Similar:
Poland and Lithuania
Black Madonna Czestochowa
Pilsudski tomb in
Vilnius Madonna
Vilnius and Wawel
Adam
Mickiewicz
Stanislaw Moniuszko

38. Lithuania Welcomes: PORTUGAL
And presents:
Grand Duchy of
Lithuania in 15th
Century
Lithuania was one of the
biggest country in Europe
as Portugal was.

39. So Different and So Similar:
Portugal and Lithuania
Statue of Jesus in Lisbon
Three Croses in Vilnius
Christmas in Lisbon
Christmas in Vilnius

40. Lithuania Welcomes: ROMANIA
And presents:
The Patron of Vilnius
St. Christopher

41. So Different and So Similar:
Romania and Lithuania
Romania
Vilnius

42. Lithuania Welcomes: RUSSIA
And presents:
Orthodox Churches in Vilnius

43. So Different and So Similar:
Russia and Lithuania
Doctor Aibolit in Anapa
and Vilnius
Pushkin manor house in Vilnius and in Bolshoe Boldino
Monument to Pushkin &
Hannibal in Vilnius

44. Lithuania Welcomes: SLOVENIA
And presents:
The second religion
in Lithuania -
BASKETBALL

45. So Different and So Similar:
Slovenia and Lithuania
Ljubljana
Vilnius

46. Lithuania Welcomes: SPAIN
And presents:
OLD VILNIUS UNIVERSITY
•One of the most famous persons in 16th
century in Vilnius was a Spanish poet and
lawyer, one of the authors of the 2nd
Statute of Lithuania Pedro Ruiz de Moros
•3 rectors of the University of Vilnius were
Spanish jesuit professors: Garcia Alabiano,
Miguel Ortiz and Benedictus Soxo

47. So Different and So Similar:
Spain and Lithuania
Basketball fans:
Spain and Lithuania
Vilnius Flag
Vilnius University
Spain Flag Salamanca University

48. Lithuania Welcomes: SWEDEN
And presents:
Kings and Dukes of Lithuania
House of Vasa

49. So Different and So Similar:
Sweden and Lithuania
Swedish businesses:
Sweden and Vilnius

50. Lithuania Welcomes: TURKEY
2 Turkic minorities, Karaites and Tatars,
And presents:
live in Trakai for over 600 years. Until
now they follow their traditions, speak
TRAKAI CASTLE
their Turkic languages (Karaim and Tatar)
and profess their religion (Karaim and
Islam).

51. So Different and So Similar:
Turkey and Lithuania
Kusadasi Castle Thermit Ibis – national bird of Turkey
Trakai Castle
Stork – national bird in Lithuania
Pamukkale
The Baltic Sea

52. Lithuania Welcomes:
THE UNITED KINGDOM
And presents:
Monuments and
sculptures

53. So Different and So Similar:
The United Kingdom and Lithuania
Gediminas Tower
York Castle
LONDON VILNIUS

54. Lithuania Welcomes:
THE UNITED STATES
And presents:
2nd LARGEST CITY
OF LITHUANIA
KAUNAS

55. So Different and So Similar:
The United States and Lithuania
Statue of Liberty:
Kaunas and NY City

56. Resources (pictures):
Kaunas by night: http://sportfan2011.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/kaunas/#jp-carousel-168
Kaunas castle: http://sportfan2011.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/kaunas/#jp-carousel-165
Kaunas old town: http://www.goshuttlebus.lt/naudinga-informacija/apie-kauna/
Helsinki: http://georgeberkeley.tamu.edu/helsinki%20university.jpg
Big Apple: http://ashleycreates.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a8d53767970b01676888b8a5970b-500wi
Statue of Liberty, NYC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty
Statue of Liberty, Kaunas: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_519xgDR5Sek/S3rz-a3D91I/AAAAAAAAAds/wxA77alR-0U/s1600-h/Kaunas.Laisves_statula._2007-04-06.jpg
Gediminas Tower: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/71078824
Frank Zappa monument: http://cancergenetics.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/snpedia-bioinformatics-and-frank-zappa-in-vilnius/
Cat sculpture: http://aistepaulina.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/aguonu-gatves-katinas-ksenijos-jarosevaites-skulptura-jurgos-ivanauskaites-skvere/
Dog with glasses sculpture:
Guitar and bench sculpture:
Gediminas monument: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/1dee4b/
Mindaugas monument: http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/spaudai/atsisiusti/nuotraukos/
Karaim boy: http://alkas.lt/tag/karaimai/
Karaim houses:
http://www.travel.lt/turizmas/catalog/general.jsp?catId=&caseId=A7DE0C11FD5B11DB8574746164617373&locId=0A9F60C0FD5B11DB8574746164617373&inlanguage=lt
IKEA Vilnius: http://www.15min.lt/gallery/show/vilniuje-pradetos-ikea-parduotuves-statybos-28108
Lithuanian beer: http://www.lithuanianclubusa.com/our-events.html
Czech beer: http://www.hostelolomouc.com/olomouc-in-summer.php
Lithuanian basketball fans: http://newshopper.sulekha.com/turkey-france-lithuania-basketball-worlds_photo_1490958.htm
Spanish basketball fans: http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/gallery/im:urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,lego:19780928:top,photo,5f2b2c8b-6520-3e9c-ae39-021f8b2a012f-l:1
Kusadasi castle: http://aistepaulina.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/aguonu-gatves-katinas-ksenijos-jarosevaites-skulptura-jurgos-ivanauskaites-skvere/
Trakai castle: http://www.endurolithuania.com/lt/guest-house
Trakai castle by night: http://www.kamane.lt/eng/layout/set/print/News/2007-year/July/Music/PEER-GYNT-IN-TRAKAI-CASTLE
Charles Bridge Prague: http://www.wild-about-travel.com/2010/10/remembering-prague-1980-part1/
Lithuania EU presidency: http://iq.lt/media/2011/10/FB-SM48880-596x405.jpg
Salamanca University: http://www.uq.edu.au/uqabroad/university-of-salamanca
Vilnius University: http://www.vu.lt/site_images/infor/naujienos/2012/05/vu.jpg
Vilnius from above (Slovenia) http://www.viv.lt/vilniaus_fenomenai/senamiestis_unesko_paveldas
St. George monument in Vilnius http://www.baltai.lt/?p=3620
Doctor Aibolit in Anapa http://photogoroda.com/photo-goroda-Anapa-photo-city-4055.html
Monument to Pushkin and Hannibal: http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/turizmas/lankytinos-vietos/paminklai/a-puskinas-2/
Pushkin Mueseum in Russia: http://imenie-kirov.ru/build/usadba-boldino-pushkin.html
Three Crosses in Vilnius: http://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:3crosses.jpg
Christmas in Lisbon http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_Lisbon_2005_e.JPG
Christmas in Vilnius: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/holiday/orl-xmasvilnius120111205065307,0,6536350.photo