Vilnius iš a city whose character iš hard to define, a character vvhich has been formed by its precarious position, poised between the East and the West. After emerging in the 14th century aš the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, it enjoyed over two centuries of remarkable stability, followed by a long period of invasions and subordination by foreign powers. Its complicated history makes it a city of surprises. This guidebook aims to fili in some of the historical background and to suggest some places to visit, vvithout taking away from visitors the pleasure of discovering the city for themselves.