Western Siberia
Flanked by the sturdy buildings of the Tyumen Oblast Parliament (Дом Советов) and the former House of Soviets (Бывший Дом Советов), now a local government…
Must-see attractions in Russia
Moscow
Georgy Zhukov was Chief of Staff of the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War. He oversaw the defence of both Leningrad and Stalingrad, as well as the…
Western Siberia
Lovers Bridge is a local landmark covered in appropriately romantic graffiti and a ridiculous amount of padlocks symbolising ever lasting love…
Western Siberia
The grand Kornilov Mansion, named after a 19th-century statesman and philanthropist, is closed while being converted into a museum dedicated to the…
Black Sea Coast
Fans of Soviet kitsch will appreciate Adler's silver-painted Lenin statue. Come out of the central market, turn left and Lenin is waiting for you on the…
Western Siberia
The attractive Archangel Mikhail Church sits at the top of a hill just off ul Lenina. Follow ul Turgeneva southwest behind the church to a network of back…
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
This memorial and small chapel commemorates the lives lost in the Battle of Petropavlovsk, a little-remembered clash between the British, French and…
Western Siberia
An apparently coal-caked Lenin and Maxim Gorky (founder of socialist realism) discuss – or plot? – something or other, next to the main post office at pr…
Western Siberia
The elegant Arkhiereysky Mansion was closed for renovations on our last visit and will eventually be reopened as an Orthodox history museum.
Western European Russia
The Korolevsky Bastion overlooks the Spartak Stadium, which is just outside the fortress walls.
Vaganova School of Choreography
St Petersburg
The Mariinsky Ballet’s training school, where Pavlova, Nijinsky, Nureyev and others learned their art. It's not open to the public.
Black Sea Coast
The central market is a hive of activity, packed with shops, kiosks and produce sellers. It's also the site of Adler's main bus stop.
Yakutsk
This rather brash gold-plated pillar in the old town honours Cossack explorer and founder of Yakutsk, Pyotr Beketov.
Sakhalin Island
This looming statue of the revolutionary leader still stands in pride of place in front of the train station.
Northern European Russia
Where pr Pobedy and ul Mira meet is a Lenin statue in an odd ‘Hey buddy, wanna buy a watch?’ pose.
Western European Russia
Situated at the corner of ul Sovetskaya and pr Tverskoy is this pretty church built in 1624.
Western Siberia
Saviour’s Church is pretty enough, but unfortunately it's hardly in a peaceful location.
Yakutsk
Vlad Ilych still stands on Yakutsk's main square doing a particularly directional pose.
