Samara

     Samara is one of the most beautiful cities situated on the shores of magnificent and mighty Volga river. It’s one of the five major industrial and cultural centres of Russia. 

     The history of the city begins from 1586, from the construction of the Samara fortress on the shores of the river, the purpose of which was defending the Russian territories from the raids of wild nomad tribes. Unfortunately at the beginning of the 17th century the fortress burnt down because it was wooden like the majority of the constructions of old Samara. 

     Since the beginning of 1935, the city was renamed into Kuybishev in memory of Valerian Kuybishev who was the politician of the revolution of 1917). Years passed, the epochs changed and at the beginning of 1991 the city was returned to its historical name. 

     The architecture of Samara is various and quaint. Times and epochs intertwine in the historical centre which is reflected in the architectural styles of buildings and structures. Modern coexists with neo-Gothic and Soviet constructivism, minimalism with classics. One can see merchant mansions and simply wooden buildings in the old part of the city referred to the middle of the century before last presented to this day. Samara city is famous for its architectural, religious and natural monuments and places of interest. Dmitriy Shostakovich, Ilya Repin, Aleksey Tolstoy and Vasiliy Surikov, Ivan Aivazovsky and Maxim Gorky lived and worked here. 

Townscape of Samara: https://chronograph.livejournal.com/48107.html