The exact date of the foundation of the city is unknown, but its age is for sure more than a thousand years. The official date of the founding of the city is 1005, but new archaeological findings indicate that Kazan is exactly several dozen years older. The Kazan Kremlin is the main city landmark, which was built during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. It was built by Smolensk masters, who at that time were considered the best masons.
Kazan is a city of two world religions; along with Orthodox churches there are many mosques. Religious buildings are rightfully considered to be city's decorations. Among the sights of Kazan, the leaning tower is of special interest, with which is connected a beautiful legend about the Kazan queen. According to legend, Queen Syuyumbike was so beautiful that no one could resist her beauty. She was conquered by Ivan the Terrible himself, who sent her matchmakers. The queen, who hated the terrible Russian tsar, said that she would marry him only if he built a tower in a week. When the messengers of Ivan the Terrible met the deadline, Syuyumbike climbed to the top of the tower and threw herself down from it, only to not belong to the Russian Tsar.
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