About this experience
We invite you to immerse yourself in the "golden age" of Rostov the Great - the heyday of urban merchant class. We will visit the abode where the devout came for Finitian icons and have a bird's eye view of Lake Nero. We will stroll down the merchant street listening to stories of enterprising Rostov citizens. Finally, we will visit the house-museum of the city's benefactor, the merchant Kekin.
What to expect
Rostov panorama from the monastery tower
In the first part of the tour, we will visit the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev monastery: admire the architecture of the temples, explore the surroundings and Lake Nero from the top of the watchtower, and discuss the traditions of Rostov's Finitian: in the 18th century, the monastery was considered the center of the Finitian icon and actively purchased works from local craftsmen.
Stroll through merchant streets
From the abode, we will walk along Leninskaya Street with its antique merchant buildings. You will examine the ornate door casings, see buildings funded by wealthy merchants, and learn about the most prominent among them. We will talk about enterprising personalities and merchant dynasties of Rostov the Great, their rivalries, trading tricks, business finesse, and role in the city's destiny.
Museum of Rostov merchant class
The immersion into the world of Rostov's merchant class continues in an 18th-century house owned by a merchant from the Kekin dynasty. In the museum rooms, you will see luxurious interiors, objects, and household items. You will learn who could become a merchant in past centuries, how the world of a merchant estate was organized. And of course, you will hear about the patron Alexey Kekin, who left Rostov a colossal inheritance of 8 million rubles upon his death.
Organizational details
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