Trans-Siberian 7 Yekaterinburg, Ural

Yekaterinburg and the Ural Mountains 

Founded by Peter the Great, Yekaterinburg is known as the Great Divide of the Urals. 

The Ural Mountains form a natural border between Europe and Asia, so the cultural and architectural influences of European and Asian civilizations have merged together in this fascinating and cosmopolitan landscape. Until the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Yekaterinburg was a secret and closed city to foreigners, due to the presence of the USSR’s defense industry. 

Now Yekaterinburg is totally different in its vibe, bustle and residents from cosmopolitan giants like Moscow and St Petersburg, and here you will be able to experience a more genuine Russia, with the city’s many pre-Soviet buildings being of great interest.

Valeria Nikonova

(to be continued)

Trans-Siberian 6 Yaroslavl and Volga River

The construction of the city, which reached its peak during the 17th and 18th centuries, is an outstanding example of the mixture of cultural and architectural influences of Western Europe on Russia. Yaroslavl is the city that will captivate your eyesight, even with its minor details, such as an inconspicuous tile or a painted house board, hidden behind the luxurious façades. 

Religious establishments encompass the main points of interest in Yaroslavl, including the old Transfiguration Cathedral of the Savior Monastery, built between 1506-1516; the Church of Elijah the Prophet, with extraordinarily beautiful forms of this simple but solemn temple with two white domes; the massive Church of St. John the Baptist, the masterpiece of the Yaroslavl architecture of the 17th century, with fantastic silhouettes of its 15 chapters and a rich interior with an abundance of tiles, brick patterns and murals.

Valeria Nikonova 

(to be continued)