Samara is a picturesque city on the Volga, where it is pleasant to stroll along the longest embankment in Russia, relax in green parks or visit one of the local museums. Samara architecture is notable for its diversity - both traditional classics embodied in city mansions and temples, as well as more modern Art Nouveau and socialist constructivism are presented here.
Tourist pearls of the city are the Museum "Samara Kosmicheskaya", the Iversky Monastery, the Zhigulevsky brewery and the secret Stalinist bunker. For a change, you can go to the Samarskaya Luka National Park or admire the Volga from the Helicopter observation deck. In a word, every guest will find something to their liking.
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What to see and where to go in Samara?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Samara embankment
The city embankment is considered the longest on the Volga, its length is about 5 km. Improvement of the coastal area began in the 19th century, before that there was only a heap of unprepossessing buildings. The modern promenade consists of four sections (according to the number of construction stages), terraced down to the river. It often hosts festive city events.
Zhigulevsky brewery
One of the oldest breweries in Russia, founded in 1881 by a native of Austria A. von Wakano. Here you can taste not only the original varieties of the foamy drink, but also go on an excursion and observe the production process. The plant stopped working only in the period 1915-1923, when the local authorities launched a campaign to combat drunkenness, the rest of the time it functioned smoothly.
Stalin's bunker
The secret rate of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, created in the event of a nuclear war. In Soviet times, such shelters were organized in different cities. Only in 1990 was the Samara facility declassified. The bunker lies at a depth of several tens of meters under the building of the Academy of Culture and Art. It is reliably protected from any harmful consequences of the most terrible bombing raids. Today you can take a guided tour of the shelter.
Museum "Samara Space"
The museum opened in 2001 on April 12, Cosmonautics Day. It is a whole architectural ensemble, consisting of a rocket monument and a thematic exposition, which includes aircraft, equipment, space suits, samples of "space" food. Part of the exhibition is decorated in the style of a science fiction film, which allows visitors to fully immerse themselves in the world of the future.
Samara Art Museum
The collection was created in 1897 with the direct participation of Samara painters. It contains works by local artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as examples of Russian art from the past centuries, including works by the avant-garde artists of the early 20th century and representatives of Soviet art from the 1920s and 70s. The exposition occupies two buildings - a mansion that once belonged to the Volzhsko-Kamsky Bank, and the estate of the Shikhobalov merchants.
Children's art gallery
The museum is located on the territory of a merchant mansion that belonged to I.A.Te-Klodt. This house is an architectural monument of the 19th century. The exhibition started in 1990 and was specially created for young viewers. Here are exhibited works by children, students and graduates of art schools, there are also paintings by professional painters. For a relatively short history of its existence, the museum has hosted a large number of international opening days.
Kurlina's mansion
House of the early XX century in the Art Nouveau style, built by order of the merchant A. G. Kurlin for his wife. It became one of the first buildings in Samara, erected in this architectural manner. Since the 1970s, a local history museum has been located on its territory. After reconstruction in 2008-2012, the mansion houses the Art Nouveau Museum, which soon became one of the most popular galleries in the city.
House with elephants
Another Art Nouveau building that adorns the cityscape. It was erected in 1909 according to a joint project of the architect V.V. Tepfer and K.P. Golovkin, an artist, philanthropist and merchant, who ordered the building. The mansion is made with a reference to the style of the Viennese secession, which is rather atypical for provincial town planning in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century.
Samara State Philharmonic
The main concert hall of the city, where performances of the local symphony orchestra and visiting musical groups take place. Lectures are also given here from time to time. Until 1940, the Philharmonic was housed in the building of the Olimp circus-theater, on the stage of which F. Chaliapin, A. Blok, V. Mayakovsky, I. Kozlovsky and L. Sobinov performed. The modern hall was built in 1988.
Opera and Ballet Theatre
The scene was founded in 1931. The well-known opera by M. Mussorgsky "Boris Godunov" was chosen as the premiere performance. Two years later, the theater acquired a ballet troupe. The building of the musical theater on pl. Kuibyshev is a striking example of the monumental architecture of the 1930s. Before the revolution, this place was called Cathedral Square. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was located here, on the site of which there is now an opera.
Samara Drama Theater named after M. Gorky
The drama theater has existed in Samara since the middle of the 19th century. At first it was located in a wooden building, and in 1888 it moved to a picturesque stone mansion, built according to the project of M.N. Chichagov in an elegant pseudo-Russian style. Both classical and contemporary pieces are staged on the stage, as the management tries to please audiences of different ages and views.
Iversky monastery
An Orthodox women's monastery, founded in 1850 and successfully developing before the events of the 1917 Revolution (by the beginning of the 20th century, about 400 nuns lived in it). There was a hospital, a school and craft workshops at the monastery. After closing in 1925, the religious complex gradually fell into decay. The revival took place in 1992 - the surviving temples and buildings were restored, the divine services were resumed.
Intercession Cathedral
The temple adorns the central part of the city, which at the beginning of the 19th century was considered the outskirts. The cathedral was built in 1861 at the expense of the Shikhobalov merchants. The building is designed in the style of Moscow stone architecture, inside the walls are painted with frescoes in the Italian style. The interior of the church is decorated with artificial marble, which at that time was valued even more than natural.
Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Catholic church, built in 1906 in the neo-Gothic style, designed by F.O.Bogdanovich-Dvorzhetsky. The temple functioned until the early 1920s, after which it was closed. Since 1941, the Samara Museum of Local Lore has been located on its territory. In 1991, the building was returned to the Catholic community, after which restoration began. Inside are relics from St. Martin de Porres.
Sculpture "Barge Haulers on the Volga"
The sculptural group was created based on the painting of the same name by I. Repin. The composition was installed on the embankment in 2014 on the day of the 170th anniversary of the painter's birth. The sculpture is almost a complete copy of the canvas (it is even “dressed” in a picture frame), only now the viewer will be able to see the volumetric figures of barge haulers from all sides. The author of the work was the Samara sculptor N. Kuklev.
Monument to Chapaev
The monument was installed in 1932 on the square. Chapaeva.The composition depicts a group of Red Army soldiers led by a textbook hero of the Civil War. The opening of the monument was timed to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the October Revolution. The image of Chapaev was copied from his son, who posed for the sculptor while creating the statue. It is interesting that in St. Petersburg there is an exact copy of this monument.
Monument to Prince Grigory Zasekin
Prince Grigory Zasekin is considered the founder of Samara. A monument in his honor was erected on the embankment in 2014 on the 428th anniversary of the founding of the city. The sculpture was made according to the project of the Moscow master K. Sarkisov at the Smolensk foundry. The figure of the prince sits on a horse, in his hands he holds a banner with the face of Christ. The composition is mounted on a square plinth weighing 40 tons.
Monument "Samara Ladya"
The opening of the monument was timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Samara. The monument is a Russian boat with a sail. The ship is a symbol of the city, whose history is inextricably linked with the great Volga River. "Samarskaya Ladya" adorns the embankment and is a place for wedding photo sessions, meetings, festivities and other events. There are benches near the monument where you can relax after walking along the coast.
Glory Monument
The memorial monument is dedicated to the Kuibyshev aviation industry workers who made a huge contribution to the 1945 Victory. It is made in the form of a 40-meter stele crowned with a 13-meter figure of a man with a conventional model of an airplane in his hands. To create the composition, each worker of the Kuibyshev plant donated 1 ruble from his salary. O.S. Kiryukhin and P.I.Bondarenko worked on the project.
Leningradskaya street
Tourist alley in the historical center of Samara. Its length is 1.7 km. One of its sections between Galaktionovskaya and Kuibysheva streets is pedestrian. The street appeared in Samara in the 19th century, since then it has changed its name several times. There are 19th-20th century mansions and modern buildings. Some of these structures still retain their historical names.
Train Station
The modern station building was erected in 2001. It is a multifunctional complex with waiting rooms, a museum of the Kuibyshev Highway and an observation deck. That is, passengers can dilute the boring waiting by visiting the exposition and admiring the city landscapes. The station is considered the highest among all European railway stations.
Strukovsky garden
A public garden on the banks of the Volga, founded in 1851. Previously, there was a forest area that belonged to the state official G. Strukov. In Soviet times, the garden was renamed the A.M. Gorky Park of Culture and Leisure. There were amusement rides, cafes, a concert venue and a swimming pool. Today the place has returned to its historical name. The Strukovsky Garden is perfect for walking.
Park named after Yuri Gagarin
The park appeared in 1976 in the Industrial District, surrounded by residential buildings on all sides. In 1930–40, the dachas of the NKVD officers stood here, as well as the graves of those shot during the repressions were located nearby. Until 1997, the city zoo was located on the territory. There are attractions in the park; in winter, visitors are invited to the skating rink, and in the summer - to horseback riding and boat trips.
National Park "Samarskaya Luka"
State reserve in the bend of the Volga. On its territory are the Volga Upland and the Zhigulevskie Mountains. The national park was founded in 1984 to preserve the flora and fauna of the region. The flora is represented by more than 1000 species, the animal - by several hundred mammals, fish and birds. Among them there are wild boars, ermines, weasels, badgers, green woodpeckers, house sparrows.
Observation deck "Helicopter"
The "Helicopter" offers the best views of the fascinating landscapes of the Volga. Perhaps this is the best observation deck in the Samara region, equipped with everything necessary for the convenience of visitors: there is a restaurant, cafe, parking, terraces, benches. The place received this name due to the fact that in the past a service helicopter of the chief designer of the SNTK them. Kuznetsova.
