Gate of Dawn, Renaissance chapel with sacred painting in Old Town, Vilnius, Lithuania
The Gate of Dawn is a fortified structure with thick stone walls that enclose a chapel where a Renaissance painting of religious significance hangs. Inside, the space is modest in size but ornate in decoration, with the sacred image as its central focal point.
This gate was built in the early 1500s as one of the main defensive entrances protecting the old walled city. Over the centuries, all other gates were demolished or lost, but this one survived and eventually transformed into a sacred shrine.
The chapel draws visitors and pilgrims who come to light candles and spend quiet moments in contemplation before the sacred image. The space remains a living place of devotion where people from different backgrounds gather in shared spiritual respect.
The gate is located at Ausros Vartu 14 in the Old Town and is accessible on foot with an easy entrance. Visitors should dress respectfully as it remains an active place of worship where prayers are held throughout the day.
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary alone without the infant Jesus, a rare portrayal in Renaissance religious art that distinguishes this shrine from many others. This unconventional image has made the chapel a distinctive pilgrimage destination for centuries.
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