Visit virtual Rīga through Latvian literature in English

The literary tour, which is available free of charge to every user on the website www.rigabooktour.lv, has been filmed with a 360-degree camera offering the opportunity not only to listen, but also to participate actively and, by changing the angle of view of the screen, to view Ķīpsala, Rīga Central market, the Splendid Palace cinema and other important places in Rīga. During the tour, the characters of the marketing campaign #iamintrovert – introverted writers I. and I. – of the Latvian Literature platform accompany the user, helping to get into the specific environment by sharing various historical facts. The idea for this tour dates back to the pandemic when many wanted to travel or otherwise pull out of their usual daily surroundings for a moment.

"Wanted to have trips where you can go without requiring money and time. At the same time, it's an opportunity to interest people in our literature and capital city, who have never been here and don't know who Nora Ikstena or Jānis Joņevs are," said Anete Konste, screenwriter of the virtual tour.

This project, like the Latvian literature platform, has an international audience, so the tour is also designed in English. Animated characters drawn by the artist and author of the visual identity of the #iamintrovert campaign, Reinis Pētersons, appear in the urban setting during the tour. The tour uses extracts from works by Latvian writers Dace Rukšāna, Jānis Joņevs, Andra Neiburga, Arno Jundze, Luīze Pastore, Kristīne Ulberga, Baiba Zīle, Inga Ābele, Pauls Bankovskis, and Vizma Belševica. The virtual tour was created by the film production company Fon Films, advised by tour guide Harijs Egliens.

Between October 18 and 22 Latvia will participate in the Frankfurt book fair, during which the virtual tour will be available to all visitors at the Latvian stand.