A Nation Called Uzupis

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This one really interests me because it is in Latvia’s neighboring country Lithuania. It is called Uzupis and was founded in 1997. Its ruler is Romas Lileikis who is a Lithuanian poet, musician and film director. It has become an artistic and Bohemian community with a population of 120 and is 148 acres big. It broke away from Vilnius the capital of Lithuania. The most interesting thing is that its residents have made Frank Zappa as a kind of patron saint for themselves. They started a Zappa Fan Club after Lithuania became independent once more. A bust of Frank Zappa was sculpted by Konstantinas Bogdanas and was unveiled in 1995. It has its own anthem, constitution, president, bishop, two churches, the Bernadine Cemetery (one of the oldest in the city), seven bridges and its own guardian known as The Bronze Angel of Uzupis. It flies four flags, one for each season and their Independence Day or Uzupis Day is on April 1. The name Uzupis means “behind the river” and it is home to the only mermaid in Lithuania. She is not real but can be found on the embankment and those who fall under her spell are bound to remain in here forever. Another interesting fact is that it is referred to as a neighborhood of Vilnius mostly a part of its Old Town which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Google image