Vologda is one of the oldest Russian cities. It was founded by Novgorodians in the 12th century on the way of the so-called portage - a pass that connected the basins of the Sheksna and Sukhona rivers. In the past, this city was a kind of gateway to the North, as well as a fairly large trade and craft center and an outpost of the Mother See in the fight against foreign invaders. Today, thanks to its unforgettable charm and unique atmosphere, Vologda is one of the favorite tourist destinations in the Russian North.
Among the ancient cities of Russia, Vologda rightfully occupies a special place in terms of the importance and number of monuments of wooden architecture. There are no examples of wooden classicism that can be seen in this city in Europe. Therefore, you should definitely look at at least a few of them with your own eyes. Visit Blagoveshchenskaya Street Several unique wooden buildings are located on it. Among them is the house of Kirkhoglanin. This is a two-story mansion with a corner loggia and a coach house. It would be a crime to visit Vologda and not visit its main attraction - the Kremlin. It stands on the banks of the river in the very heart of the city. It was started by Ivan the Terrible. The tsar dreamed of turning this city into the capital of the oprichnina. However, he did not wait for the completion of the construction of the Kremlin. Its square was built up extremely slowly, over several centuries, which is why the Kremlin buildings are quite different from each other in style. Here you can see the Resurrection Cathedral, the former Bishops' House, and the Sophia Bell Tower - the tallest building in Vologda. The bell tower attracts the attention of guests of the city not only for its slenderness and fifty-meter height, but also for its gilded poppy seed, which is pretty shiny in clear weather. A rather extensive panorama of the city and its environs unfolds from its observation deck. As in any other ancient Russian city, a large number of cathedrals and churches have been built in Vologda. Today there are about fifty of them. Most of them stand on the banks of the river. Visit the Presentation Church. It stands in a rather picturesque place - right in the bend of the river. Not far from the Kremlin is the Church of Varlaam Khutynsky. It is of particular interest from an architectural point of view. Its appearance is strikingly different from the temple that is familiar to a Russian person. It has no domes, but the roof is decorated with two stone vases. These architectural delights are definitely worth seeing as the city has many bridges. One of them is the Red Bridge, which has recently become completely pedestrianized. There is a very funny monument next to it. It was installed relatively recently, in honor of the centenary since the advent of electrification in Vologda. The monument is a lamppost and a mongrel peeing at it. The townspeople call their new attraction - "the monument to the pissing dog". Among the unusual sights is the brick monument. Its meaning lies in the historical legend, according to which Ivan the Terrible wanted to make Vologda the capital of the state, demoted Moscow. But at the entrance to the city, a brick supposedly fell from the fortress wall on the tsar. The autocrat considered this incident an unkind sign and returned to Moscow. There are many museums in Vologda. One of them is the Museum of Forgotten Things, its exposition will tell you that used things do not lose their energy and are still a part of our life. It is worth going to the lace museum, which has about four thousand lace works, or to the house-museum of Peter the Great. This quaint one-story house, proudly standing on the banks of the river, already attracts the attention of city guests with its striking architectural decoration. The roof gives color to the building - it is in a green cell. It was in this house, which belonged to the Dutch merchant Gutman, that Peter the Great stayed on every visit to this city. The museum contains items that once belonged to the king, in particular, his clothes.
