Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Vilnius

This Renaissance church near St. Anne's in Vilnius was founded in the early seventeenth century as a mausoleum for a noble family. Its restrained facade and pointed gables reflect the transition from Gothic to Renaissance forms in the city. After serving as a place of worship and later standing empty under Soviet rule, it now houses a museum of church heritage displaying religious art, textiles and precious objects from the archdiocese. The church rounds out the cluster of historic buildings along the small Vilnia River.