Ivanovo Region

The small towns of Ivanovo Region represent a perfect Russian provincial getaway: centuries-old wooden houses, old churches, picturesque scenery of the Volga River… if you recall a painting by Isaac Levitan or Boris Kustodiev, there’s a big chance that this region played a part in its creation. 

In Kineshma, the region’s second largest town, you can spend hours wandering around looking at merchants’ mansions; in Plyos, you can admire the scenery from Sobornaya Gora and, in Yuryevets, you can visit the house of director Andrei Tarkovsky. 

The city of Ivanovo itself is often referred to as the “Russian Manchester” for its large quantity of textile factories and avant-garde architecture. The largest constructivist-style train station in Russia can also be found there. It was built in 1933 and is marked by massive illuminator windows, Soviet-style mosaics, rows of square lights and Metlakh tiles.