The First Swallows in Vilnius

The sculpture First Swallows (Pirmosios kregzdes) was designed by the Lithuanian sculptor Juozas Mikenas and erected in 1964. At first I thought it symbolised something new, or a fresh start, but it predates independence by almost 30 years. It’s a good example of socialist realism and is one of the few sculptures from Soviet times which still exists in Vilnius.

The sculpture is located between Konstitucijos pr. and the right bank of the Neris river, just inbetween the two bridges Baltasis tiltas and Gelezinio Vilko tiltas.