Seimas Palace, Vilnius

The Seimas Palace is a significant building in the history of Lithuania. It serves as the home of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania. The construction of the building began in 1967, and it was designed by architects Algimantas Nasvytis and Vytautas Nasvytis. It was completed in 1980, and it became the home of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR, replacing the Lithuanian SSR State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre building.

However, the Seimas Palace became a symbol of Lithuania's resistance to the Soviet occupation in the late 20th century. On March 11, 1990, an act "On the Restoration of an Independent State of Lithuania" was announced in the Seimas Palace, marking the country's determination to break free from Soviet rule. A year later, on January 13, 1991, the Soviet army attempted to occupy the Seimas Palace, but tens of thousands of people gathered to defend it. The event resulted in 14 deaths and hundreds of injuries, but it ultimately marked a crucial moment in Lithuania's fight for independence.

Today, the Seimas Palace serves as a place of remembrance, with the remains of the barricades used and monuments reminding visitors of the historic events that took place there. Additionally, the building has undergone several changes over the years. In the late 20th century, the Ministry of Finance of the Lithuanian SSR and the Lithuanian Council of Trade Unions buildings were added to the Seimas Palace, becoming the II and III Seimas Palaces, respectively. The Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Lithuania was also located in the western part of the I Seimas Palace from 1993 to 1997.