The town is located on the right bank of the Volga river in 330km to the North-West of Moscow. Like Moscow, Kostroma was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruki, in 1152. The town had to face many tragedies over the centuries: internecine wars between princes, destructive invasion of Tatar-Mongols, fires, and Lithuanian-Polish invasion. And yet every time the town rose from the ashes and healed its wounds. In 1778, Kostroma became the centre of the region and several years later the general plan of its development was introduced in accordance with which all streets were supposed to meet at the central square with the huge trading centre on the bank of Volga. Today Kostroma is the only city in Russia that preserves the architectural ensemble formed in its central part in the XVIII – beginning of the XIX centuries. One of the most interesting architectural monuments of Kostroma is Ipatyevsky Monastery. The Monastery founded approximately in 1330 is situated on the place of confluence of Volga and Kostroma rivers. The wall paintings in the monastery are unique and valuable pieces of art. A great addition to these wall paintings is the picturesque wooden iconostasis created by Kostroma craftsmen.
