Kazan

The capital of the historic republic of Tartarstan, with a prime location on the banks of the Volga and Kazanka rivers, Kazan is a city in boom. In recent years, it’s been recognized as the 3rd capital of Russia, and its economic greatness runs all the way back to the 11th century when it was a stop on the ancient Volga trade route from Scandinavia to Baghdad. Visit the Kazan Kremlin palace complex, a World Heritage Site which outdates Ivan the Terrible, and the huge Kul Sharif mosque, which illustrates the Islamic heart of this fascinating city.