Kostroma, Russia

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Founded in 1152, Kostroma lies along the middle Volga, approximately 200 miles northeast of Moscow. Kept off limits to foreign visitors until 1990, Kostroma is one of the most beautiful cities on Russia's Golden Ring. The town is the former home of the Godunov and Romanov dynasties and also is the site where the first Romanov Czar was crowned 300 years ago. After nearly being destroyed in the great fire of 1773, the old town center was built in the style of the time. It is said that Catherine II was dissatisfied with the plans to rebuild the town, threw open her fan and said, "Build it like that." Indeed, the town's street pattern is fan-shaped. Visit the historic 14th-century Ipatyevsky Monastery, Trinity Cathedral, the 1712 wooden Church of the Transfiguration and the 17th-century Church of the Resurrection. Kostroma is also home to the open-air museum village, Begengenvka, featuring wood-construction architecture of windmills, medieval homes and various churches.

Language: Russian
Currency: Russian Ruble (RUB), US dollar (US$)