Culture of Almaty. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

A beautiful park named after 28-Panfilov heroes is one of the main attractions of the city. The total square of the park estimates 18 hectares. On its territory you will find Holy Ascension Cathedral, which construction was completed in 1904. Timber of rare Tien-Shan spruce was used as the main building material of the church. The height of the majestic building estimates 54 meters. The cathedral miraculously survived during a strong earthquake in 1911.

Make a few steps away from the cathedral and you will see the Memorial of Fame, which was opened in 1975. The monument was opened to commemorate the 30th anniversary of victory in the fight against Nazi Germany. Besides this, there are other important landmarks in the park, such as the house of officers, Arasan Baths, Panfilov Monument, and Museum of Musical Instruments. The opening of the museum took place in 1980. Nowadays the exhibition of the museum features a rich collection of national musical instruments, some of which were made more than one hundred years ago.

One more important landmark of Almaty is located near the park. This is Green market. This is an authentic oriental bazaar, during a walk on which you can not only buy high-quality and inexpensive goods, but also try the best barbecue in the city. Food there is prepared according to the original recipe. The Central State Museum is surely the most famous cultural institution of the city. The museum is located in the southern district of the capital. In the halls of the museum you will find more than 120,000 precious archaeological and historical artifacts including ancient weapons and armor, jewelry and coins, historical documents and books. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Republic Square is just in front of the museum. This is the main square in Almaty, near which you can also see many interesting buildings and monuments. There are also prominent religious attractions in the city. For example, travelers should definitely visit Central Mosque, which was built in 1999. The height of the minaret is 47 meters. The mosque amazes visitors by its beautiful decorations and original architectural design. St. Nicholas Cathedral is a way older religious construction – its building was finished in 1908. The church is located in the heart of the city. Fans of ballet and opera will spend nice hours in Kazakh State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Abay. Finally, fans of nature will definitely enjoy a stroll through the local botanical garden.

In addition to the museums presented, the Museum of Archeology is one more remarkable place where you can look at the skeletons and bones of various creatures that existed in the prehistoric times. The museum, though small, is famous for the fact that the exhibits showcased in it are quite exceptional. Another museum worth visiting is the Zoological Museum, where you can also see fascinating exhibits. The History Museum of the city of Almaty, or simply the Museum of Almaty, is yet another museum that definitely merits dropping in on. The museum itself is interesting from a historical point of view being that it is located on the territory of a monument of architecture belonging to the 19th century. You can stroll here along medieval streets, stopover at a hotel in the city of Verny, as well as see unique historical artifacts. All these will guarantee immersion in any historical epoch of Almaty.

The Almaty television tower on Kok-Tobe is one of the main symbols of the country that is not to be missed. As a matter of fact, this is even not possible, because the tower sits above all other buildings, as though pointing out the way to travelers, just as a lighthouse shows the way to sailors. Quite popular among tourists is the fountain called “Nedelka”, which is located near the House-Museum of Ahmet Baitursynov. This is a special place for locals – people in love or friends often meet here. Near the fountain, there is a park in which you can pleasantly sit down, separating yourself from the rest of the world.

Of the religious buildings found in the city, the Iversky-Seraphimovskiy Nunnery is quite fascinating. This is exactly the place where you can find tranquility in the midst of the noisy city – this is not at all hindered by the fact that the holy place is located in the very center of the city. The monastery is huge, occupies the terrain of a whole quarter, and has a big beautiful temple on its territory. From an architectural point of view, you will also find the Pokrovsko-Vsekhsvyatskiy Khram to be very attractive. The place of worship looks as though woven of lace and this is what makes it remarkable. Unlike most temples, this one is wooden. Furthermore, it has a striking interior decoration as there are many beautiful wooden carved elements on the inside.

There is a synagogue in the city, called the Central Synagogue of Kazakhstan. The very beautiful mint-colored building with white edging immediately attracts attention of passersby, beckoning on them to come in and discover the famous Oriental hospitality. Also in the former capital of Kazakhstan, other than the Almaty Central Mosque, there is the Beket-Ata Mosque and the Muhammad Ali Mosque. Both buildings are distinguished by extraordinary color. The first mosque is characterized by a sense of antiquity, which emanates from it. It is located far from the city, and is famous for its sharp ascent. The latter, Muhammad Ali Mosque, impresses people with its majestic appearance and sense of peace that emanates when it is visited.