Rostov the Great is one of the ancient and most beautiful towns of the Russian land (it was called Rostov the Great in 12th-17th centuries). The town stands on the bank of Nero Lake with water of striking pearl, gray and blue shades. These color shades are amazingly depicted by the fine collection of ancient icons displayed in the local museum. The town was established much earlier than Moscow. People were living on the present territory of Rostov even 4 thousand years BC, in the stone age. In Russian Chronicles Rostov was first mentioned in 862 A.D. In the 13th century the town was one of the centers of the new Russian state formed in the northwest part of ancient Russia. Up to the end of the 18th century Rostov remained one of the biggest and the richest towns of Russia. In 1589-1788 it was the residence of the Russian Metropolitan. The town has its own peculiar structure. The main streets meet at the historic center, where, built in the 16th century, the Dormition Cathedral stands, with its bell tower erected in the 17th century. The bells of tower play one of the most fascinating chime or bell music. The local Kremlin had been called "Bishop's House" up to the 19th century.

 
The architectural ensemble built in 1660-1680 by the order of Metropolitan Ivan Sysoyevich as a Metropolitan residence is in excellent condition. It includes 5 churches, palaces and estates. The inner walls have wonderful wall paintings, which also remain bright and attractive. It looks like the whole ensemble rushes up into the skies; its walls bear the trait of the ancient times. There are so-called "trading line" structures (classical style, 1830) close to the Kremlin and the Church of Savior with the golden stars on bright-blue domes. The Church of Ascension stands a bit away from the line. There are two convents located on the banks of Nero lake to the left and to the right of the Kremlin: the St. Abraham Convent to the north-east (16th-19th cent.) and Yakovlevsky Convent (17th-19th cent.) to the southwest.