Smilšu Iela

Smilšu Iela is one of the oldest streets in Riga's Old Town and runs through the center from Jēkaba Iela to the Meierovics Boulevard. As a continuation of the historic Sand Road, it was the city's most important and widest street from the 13th to the 17th century, with its first documented mention dating back to the 14th century. Most of the buildings you see today date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Two public wells, the Sand Tower at the end of the street (now known as the Powder Tower), and a coal market once shaped the area. In the early 20th century, a streetcar line also ran along the street.