'''?emai?i? Kalvarija''' (''English: Samogitian Calvary'') is a small town in Plung? district municipality, Samogitia, Lithuania. It is known as a major site for Catholic pilgrimage.
Understand
This place was mentioned in 1253 as ''Garde'' (Gardai). In the 17th century, when the main church and road of cross was built, people started calling it the New Jerusalem, but after some time it was named Kalvarija after the name of the hill, where Jesus was crucified. In the 20th century, the town was renamed to ?emai?i? Kalvarija to avoid misunderstandings, because there is another town in south-west of Lithuania, called Kalvarija.
During the Soviet years, 1964?1989, the town was renamed to Varduva. At that time, people, who visited this place as pilgrims, were persecuted by KGB. Only in 1989 town's name was restored back to its historic name ?emai?i? Kalvarija.
Get in
By ferry to Klaipeda from Kiel, Sassnitz (Germany), Karlshamn (Sweden), Arhus, Aabenraa (Denmark)
By plane via Palanga - Riga (fastest way to come), Kaunas, Vilnius
By bus from Klaipeda, Kaunas, Riga, Vilnius
By car from Plunge
Get around
It is a very small town, so most people walk, drive by bicycles or cars in it.
See
'''The Great ?emai?i? Kalvarija Church Festival''' (Lithuanian: ''Didieji ?emai?i? Kalvarijos atlaidai'') held every year on the first two weeks of July. The main day of the festival is the first Sunday of July [http://www.zemaiciukalvarija.lt/?id=54].
'''Holy John Hill''' also known as the hill of folds. (Lithuanian: ''?vento Jono kalnas'' (Gard? piliakalnis)
'''Basilica of Samogitian Calvary Holy Mary's visit''' (Lithuanian: ''?emai?i? Kalvarijos ?v?. Mergel?s Marijos Apsilankymo ma?oji bazilika'') [http://www.miesteliai.lt/miestas/zemaiciu-kalvarija/galerija.html].
Do
There are many things to do in ?emai?i? Kalvarija. People are attracted to this place, because of the amazing nature and spirituality of this place. Most important event of the year is The Great ?emai?i? Kalvarija Church Festival. During this festival many tourists and pilgrims come to the town from all over Samogitia, Lithuania and abroad (mostly from Latvia, Germany, Spain, Poland, the UK, Ireland and Nordic countries). It is one of the "must to visit" pilgrimage events for the Roman Catholics.
Clubs
Buy
There are few small shops in the town, such as ''Danuva'' [http://www.imones.lt/imones/info/P150_00768473]. During the The Great ?emai?i? Kalvarija Church Festival there are many people, who are selling hand made crafts.
Eat
Snack
Dinner
Drink
Sleep
'''Hotels'''
'''Linelis'''. Located 11 km away from ?emai?i? Kalvarija in Paplatel? [http://www.linelis.lt/]
'''Guest houses'''
Stay safe
?emai?i? Kalvarija is a safe place but like anywhere you have to use common sense. It is a small town and not overcrouded, so people live a slow and easy life here.
Get out
The lovely seaside resort Palanga is on the way back to past glory. It is busy with tourists from June to September. The Latvian city Liepaja is just 80 km north from ?emai?i? Kalvarija and is famous with beach, too, as well as with its Karosta neighbourhood, which is a former soviet secret military town with lots of things to see, such as a prison for tourists and a very scenic seaside fortress ruins and a cathedral.
Links
[http://www.zemaiciukalvarija.lt/ ?emai?i? Kalvarija official website].