Gate of Dawn
Ideal: Suitable for those interested in history, culture, and religious heritage sites.
Of the nine city gates built between 1503 and 1522, only this one remains standing. The icon of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn in the chapel above is considered sacred by both Catholics and Orthodox, and pilgrims kneel in prayer in the street below. The chapel walls are covered with thousands of silver votive plaques: pieces cast in the shape of hands, feet, hearts, and eyes left by people praying for healing or giving thanks after recovery.
Did you know?
Why did this gate survive?
It is the only one left of Vilnius's nine 16th-century city gates. The others were demolished in the late 18th century; this one was spared because of the chapel inside it.
Why is the icon inside so important?
The image of the Virgin is a pilgrimage site for both Catholics and Orthodox, its silver cover leaving only the face and hands visible. Men passing beneath still traditionally remove their hats.
What are the silver offerings in the chapel?
Thousands of small silver plaques covering the walls are votive offerings from people who believed they were healed. Their shapes — hearts, hands, feet, eyes — indicate the ailment cured.
Why go?
- To see one of Vilnius's historic city gates
- To visit an important point touching Lithuania's religious and cultural heritage
- To add a short but meaningful stop to an old-town route
Travel tip
This does not take long; it fits easily into a Vilnius Old Town walk.
