Viru Gates

This is the main access point to the old town from the east. Part of the gate was demolished in 1880 to make more room for traffic, but the two fourteenth century towers were kept, and today have become a real symbol of the city. In fact, they were once part of a larger gate system. In the background, and as brutal contrast to the two towers, we find the Sokos Hotel, built by the Russians in the late 70's, a block that appears between the two towers as an invader preparing his attack on the Old Town ...