In the center of Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, there’s a hidden bohemian paradise.
More than a neighborhood that attracts creatives, Užupis is a full-fledged art project-turned independent “nation,” official in everything but paperwork. As symbolized by a sculpture of an angel blowing its trumpet in the “national” square, the creators’ goal was to usher in a new era of creativity and quality. Having already erected a statue of Frank Zappa in the city two years prior to founding Užupis (no reason, they just liked him), the creative collective (which included Užupis “Foreign Minister” Tomas Čepaitis) was looking for a bigger challenge. And from the looks of it, with the help of streets filled with art and a handful of unorthodox guiding principles styled as an official constitution, 21 years later, they’re still succeeding wildly.