The Land of 1001 Delights
·SVIYAZHSK
ISLAND-TOWN
Where History Lives
000
M
foook
Pushkin's fairy tales come to life on the
Sviyazhsk river island only 60 kilometres
from Kazan. Initially a fortress built by
Ivan the Terrible to seize Kazan in 16th
century, Sviyazhsk has grown through
the ages into a quintessential place
of Russian culture.
The island with less than 300 residents
has 37 cultural sights, two of them are
currently being considered for UNESCO
World Heritage status.
Sviyazhsk hosts the oldest Christian
church on the Volga, the wooden Trinity
Church which was built in 1551 during
a single day. Among the beautiful
murals of the Uspensky Cathedral rare
images of Ivan the Terrible himself can
be spotted. Sviyazhsk bears witness to
the worst aspects of the Soviet era, with
some of its churches being turned into
a prison camp and a mental institution.
An extensive and careful restoration
since 2010 has brought the island's
churches back to their original function.
The solitary and pure nature of the
island is preserved with no industry or
public transport allowed on the island.
Today Sviyazhsk has a lively arts and
festival scene. There is a museum,
a stable yard and a medieval theme
centre, complete with an iron monger,
archery stalls and interactive knight's
armour displays.
The serene and spiritual Sviyazhsk is
a firm favourite with locals and visitors
alike.
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