Kostroma

   The city is located on the banks of the Volga River 330 kilometers northwest of Moscow. Kostroma, like Moscow, was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky in 1152. Over the centuries such numerous disasters as internecine wars between princes, devastating wars with Mongol invaders, terrible fires and Polish-Lithuanian invasion befell the town. Yet, each time it rose again from the ashes and healed its severe wounds. In1778, Kostroma became the center of a province, and several years later a master plan for its development was adopted, by which all its radial streets were to converge on the central square with a huge Shopping Center on the bank of the Volga. Today Kostroma is the only city in Russia which has retained the layout and architectural ensemble formed in its central part during the XVIII - early XIX centuries. Of the buildings erected in the XIX century no two were alike, which is an indication of a high standard of town planning in that period. A peculiar feature of the old part of Kostroma is the abundance of wooden houses. Their facade decorations and forged balcony railings add very special features to their appearance. However, Kostroma`s principal attraction is the Ipatiev Monastery. The Ipatiev monastery founded around 1330 is located at the confluence of two rivers – The Volga and the Kostroma. The monastery was first mentioned in chronicles in 1435. It is from this monastery that Michael Romanov, the first of the Romanov dynasty, was called to become tsar of Russia. The crowing glory of the Ipatiev monastery ensemble is the five-dome Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. The church was constructed in the mid – 16th century. The murals painted on the walls are regarded as some of the most valuable art treasures in the country. A perfect match for these frescoes is the picturesque wooden Baroque iconostasis made by Kostroma masters, and comprising 80 icons arranged in several tiers. The cathedral houses the family vault of the Godunovs. Another treasure of Kostroma is the Church of the Ressurection-on-the-Debre built in the 17th century with the donations of some of the merchants. The church catches the eye with its amazing festive appearance. Its redbrick walls are decorated with white-stone inserts and green glazed tiles on the domes.