San Giorgio Monferrato Castle originates from the 10th century and is well-preserved. The Monferrato family built massive walls in the 15th century. It was damaged by Spanish army in the early 1700s.
Built on five above-ground storeys, plus attic and tower for a total of about 4300 square metres of floor space and more than 5000 covered (the difference between the two measurements is given by the thickness of the ancient walls), the property also has an Italian-style garden, a small hanging garden, two majestic panoramic terraces with views sweeping from the plains to the Alpine arc, and a centuries-old park of about 3.6 hectares.
House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams) is a building situated in the old town of Riga. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments.
The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by the Soviets in 1948. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999. Today the House of Blackheads serves as a museum and sometimes concert hall.