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Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,535, it is the eight most populous city in Russia.
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Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia
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In 2005, Kazan celebrated the 1000th anniversary of its founding. The city gave itself heaps of presents and became a real tourism capital of Russia
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The Kazan Kremlin is a World Heritage Site. In 2005, the Medal "In Commemoration of the 1000th Anniversary of Kazan" was established by Russia to denote this landmark event. The multi-ethnic city is honored by UNESCO and famous for Muslims and Christians living side-by-side in peace
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Major monuments in the kremlin are the five-domed six-columned Annunciation Cathedral (1561–62) and the mysterious leaning Soyembika Tower, named after the last queen of Kazan and regarded as the city's most conspicuous landmark
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Also of interest are the towers and walls, erected in the 16th and 17th centuries but later reconstructed; the Qol-Şarif mosque, which is already rebuilt inside the citadel; remains of the Saviour Monastery (its splendid 16th-century cathedral having been demolished by the Bolsheviks) with the Spasskaya Tower.
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The views from the square of the Kremlin, the Kul Sharif Mosque and the futuristic “flying saucer” of the Kazan Circus are regarded as the city’s trademark.
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In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the right to brand itself as the "Third Capital" of Russia. In 2009 it was chosen as the "Sports capital of Russia" and it still is referred to as such. The city will host the 2013 Summer Universiade, 2015 World Aquatics Championships, and 2018 FIFA World Cup.
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The origin of the name Kazan is uncertain. The most accepted legends derive it from the Bulgar Turkic (and also modern Tatar) word qazan, which means 'boiler' or 'cauldron'. Local legends claim that the city was named for the resemblance of the hill on which it sits to an upturned cauldron.
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Since 2000, the city has been undergoing a total renovation. The historical center, including its Kremlin, has been rebuilt. Kazan celebrated its millennium in 2005, after a city-organized historical commission settled on 1005 as the official year of the city's founding. During the millennium celebrations, one of the largest mosque in Russia, Qolsharif, was dedicated in the Kazan Kremlin, the holiest copy of Our Lady of Kazan was returned to the city, the "Millennium Bridge" was inaugurated that year, and the Kazan Metro began operation.
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The local residents say the city’s metro was “built for people who aren’t in a hurry to go anywhere” — just one line and two trains that arrive at the station every 15 minutes. In fact, mainly tourists use this form of transportation in Kazan.
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The non-traditional tourist route — from ulitsa Karla Marksa to Bolshaya Krasnaya Ulitsa, and on to ulitsa Lva Tolstogo. The Suvorov Military School and the old merchants’ houses made from wood and red brick are as impressive as anything in the city’s tourism “Meccas.”
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Ulitsa Lva Tolstogo (Lev Tolstoy Street) will lead you to the River Kazanka embankment. Since the reservoir was built, this river has become a wide expanse of calmly flowing water (average width 0,6 miles). In the middle of the river stands an ancient church, built as a memorial to the soldiers who died on 2 October 1552 when Ivan the Terrible captured Kazan. It was founded in 1811 and stands on a small island surrounded by water.
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While Russia is preparing for the Olympics in Sochi, Kazan is getting ready for the Universiade-2013. The “third capital” is also competing for the title of capital of young people’s sport. Entry to the Basketball Hall, where Kazan’s Unics team plays, is free, and for entry to the TatNeft Arena, where the Ak Bars ice hockey team plays its home matches, there’s a nominal charge of 1 euro. The old ice stadium hosts figure skating competitions, and there is indoor skating for everyone interested in each district.
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