Rostov-on-Don is one of the picturesque cities in the south of Russia. It stretches on the right bank of the Don River, not far from its confluence with the Sea of Azov. The city is located at the intersection of the largest water and land routes. The first historical mention of it dates back to 1749, when Empress Elizabeth ordered the construction of the Temernitskaya customs house on the right bank of the Don. For almost three centuries of its history, Rostov has become a major scientific, industrial and cultural center of Russia.
In one day, you can hardly see all the delights of this distinctive southern city: there are many sights in it and they are all worth seeing. Start your walk around Rostov-on-Don from its "heart" - Bolshaya Sadovaya Street. It is not only the central, but also the longest street in the city. We can say that this is the Rostov analogue of Nevsky Prospekt. On it there are such sights as the Central Department Store, Chernov's Profitable House, the Musical Theater, the City House. It also houses the buildings of the local administration and the presidential plenipotentiary in the Southern Federal District.
Rostov-on-Don is a multinational city. People of different religious beliefs live here. That is why on the streets of the city you can see not only Orthodox churches, but also a Catholic church, a Muslim mosque, synagogues. Among the sights of Rostov, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands out. This snow-white temple, adorned with massive golden domes, is the center of the city's architectural ensemble. It was erected at the end of the 19th century according to the project of the legendary architect Konstantin Ton, who is the author of the Grand Kremlin Palace, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and the Armory in Moscow.
Be sure to go to Baghramyan Street, where you can see one of the architectural monuments of federal significance - the church of the Armenian monastery Surb-Khach. It was built at the end of the 18th century. Now the museum of Russian-Armenian friendship is located within its walls. The oldest exhibits in it are a stone Armenian cross brought from the Crimea and ancient books that were printed within the walls of the monastery, where the first printing house of Grigory Khaldaryants in the south of Russia was located.
At the intersection of Gazetny Lane and Turgenevskaya Street, you can see the Soldier's Synagogue. This is the only functioning synagogue in Rostov. It was built in the spirit of Art Nouveau interspersed with oriental architecture. When you are next to Gazetny Lane, look into the basement of building No. 46. There is the most famous public toilet in Rostov. At the dawn of the 20th century, a small area of the basement was occupied by a cafe where local poets and other bohemians loved to gather, it was called the "Poets' Basement". Velimir Khlebnikov read his poems on its miniature stage. During the Nazi occupation of the city, this basement housed a casino where the Germans loved to play cards. After the war, the basement was converted into a public toilet. Now, exhibitions of avant-garde artists and performances are often held within its walls.
Be sure to visit the Botanical Garden, where you can enjoy the natural beauty at any time of the year. This is a unique natural monument within the metropolis. The area of the garden allows you to stroll through it for hours. More than six thousand species of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees grow here. In addition, there is a mineral spring on the territory of the Botanical Garden.
Take a walk along the Voroshilovsky Bridge. It connects the left and right banks of the Don. By the way, this bridge is the geographical border between Asia and Europe.
The city park named after Gorky is also worth visiting. It is located in the center of Rostov, between two parallel streets - Pushkinskaya and Bolshaya Sadovaya. This is one of the favorite resting places of Rostovites. At the entrance to the park, you can see a rather picturesque monument to the merchant peddler. From time immemorial Rostov has been a trading city, and the peddler is considered here as a kind of urban talisman. Be sure to throw a coin into his box, then, according to local belief, wealth will not bypass you.
