Rostov-on-Don is a big city in the South of Russia, an administrative centre of the Rostov Region and City of military honour. The centre of Rostov-on-Don is 1076 km to the South-South-East of Moscow. The city lies in the South-East of the East European Plain, mainly on the right bank of the Don River, 46 km away from its inflow to the Azov Sea.

Rostov-on-Don is not only a big city and a well-developed tourist centre. It is also a wonderful monument of history and nature of the South of Russia. Soft climate and rich nature resources make this area one of the favourite resting places. When visiting Rostov-on-Don and its environs you will not only get acquainted with various monuments or architecture and archeology, ancient towns and picturesque nature, but also plunge into atmosphere of the Don Cossacks and original culture of this abundant South land.

Points of Interest

Rostov Regional Museum of Local Studies owes it world-wide fame first of all to its unique archaeological collection, which is enriched annually due to archaeological diggings carried out in this area. Here one will see unique gold and silver articles of the 4th century BC to 4th century AC - armoury, harness, wine goblets, and jewelry – presenting the culture of peoples inhabiting the Don lands in antiquity. The museum also features Cossack history and the peasant rebellions headed by Bulavin, Razin and Pugachyov.

Another cultural venue of Rostov-on-Don is the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum boasting more than 6000 exhibits.

Among the sights of Rostov-on-Don there stands out the Rostov Cathedral of the Nativity of Holy Virgin, built by the architect K.A. Ton in 1860 and lavishly restored in recent years. In front of the Cathedral one can see a monument to the national hero Dmitry Donskoy.

Another temple embellishing Rostov-on-Don is the Church of Armenian Monastery Surb-Hach founded in 1786-1792. It hosts Russian and Armenian Friendship Museum.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (1891) is one of the city’s most imposing architecture monuments.

Rostov-on-Don is a city where followers of various religions live, and so it has not only Orthodox Christian churches, but also a Muslim mosque, a Catholic kostel, a Roman and Catholic Church of the Last Supper, and a Jewish synagogue.

Monument for the 25th anniversary of glorious reign of Emperor Alexander II might also be of interest to city guests.

However, these are not only ancient architectural monuments of Rostov-on-Don with its rich history that are worth travelers’ attention. Remarkable are modern constructions as well. Thus, one should not omit visiting the Theatre Square with a memorial complex in honour of liberation of Rostov in course of World War II. Nearby there is another sight – the Drama Theatre the building of which is in the form of … a tractor! The Gorky Theatre built by V.A. Shchuko and V.G. Gelfreykh in 1930-35, is one of a few preserved examples of constructivism style.