The island town of Sviyazhsk is located 30 kilometres away from Kazan. It was launched in 1551 as a fortress supporting the troops of Ivan the Terrible.
Today the island serves as an open air museum and features 37 heritage sites, among them the Mother of God Dormition Monastery, St. John the Baptist Monastery, St. Nicholas Church, and the Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow’. The Trinity Church is one of the first buildings erected on the island and the only surviving monument of the 16th century Russian wooden architecture in the Volga Region. In the Dormition Cathedral, one can find murals covering an area of 1,080 square metres. It is a unique example of the old Russian wall painting tradition from the second half of the 16th century.
In order to feel the atmosphere of ancient Russia, visitors are welcome to visit a historical themed complex, called ‘Lazy Torzhok’, where they can enjoy a horse ride in a stable yard, do some craftwork at artisan workshops or take a carriage ride around the island. Sviyazhsk offers picturesque views of the Volga and Sviyaga rivers from nearly every location on the island.
Sviyazhsk can be reached by bus or by river transport. There are also sightseeing boats running between Kazan and the island town.