Togliatti

Togliatti, which is located northwest of Samara, is the second largest city on significance and relevance in the fieldregion, with a population of about 700 thousand people. The Russian city on the shores of the legendary Volga river carried an exotic name in honour of the Italian communist Palmiro Togliatti. The city is spread on the broad steppe open spaces in the zone of the ancient Zhiguli mountains with amazing flora and fauna.

 

A fortress on the ground of the modern city was founded in 1737 by Vasily Nikitich Tatischev for the Kalmyks to translate them into a non-migratory mode of life. Initially, the city carried the name Stavropol. During the construction of hydroelectric power stations, the city was flooded, and moved to a new location.

 

Through the city passes the main highway that links the capital of Russia with the Urals and Siberia. Kurumoch International Airport is located 60 km from Togliatti. External transportation links are provided to the two railway stations and river ports. Togliatti is a city of high technology and high business activity. There are dozens of banking institutions and joint ventures. It is also a city of high consumer activity.

 

The largest producer of automobiles in Russia "AUTOVAZ", made the city famous around the world. Its technical museum has a collection of some 450 exhibits.

 

In the Central region of the city is located the ploshad Svobody, which eternal fire burns and rises Obelisk of Glory, built in honour of fellow heroes who died during the Civil War and World War II. On the central square stands a monument of Nicholas the Miracle Worker, belfry and Hristorozhdestvenskaya chapel. The city park is spread opposite the square. Experts consider the Transfiguration Cathedral as one of the best places of worship.

 

Togliatti local history museum is the main curator of monuments of material and spiritual culture of the city. The collection of national costumes of the peoples of the Volga and objects of the lifes of the peasant and noble of 18-19 centuries can be regarded as unique to the museum collection. Also is the interesting museum of historical and cultural heritage and art museum "Togliatti art gallery". The State drama theatre "Koleso" annually pleases the townspeople with five or six premiers. Philharmonic is very popular with visitors and residents of the city.

 

Togliatti by right is considered the city of festivals, the most famous of them: "Cinema planet", "World drums", Lundstrem jazz festival, the festival of electronic music and extreme sports "GES", festivals of Oriental and ethical dances "Anatolia" and "Museum picnic", a children's handball festival and Wushu festival, rock festivals "Movement" and "Russian floor". In the outskirts of the city the following festivals of tourism songs are held: Zaharovsky gathering and Grushinsky festival. Among cultural traditions is the Day of Tourism.

 

From Togliatti on the ferry you can go to the other side of the Volga river to the territory of the Samara Luka. Tashla village is also interesting where the famous Tashlinsky source is located, which is read in the Orthodox world. It was here that the "Deliverer from misfortune" icon was on the eve of the 1917 revolution, which is stored in Tashlinsky temple.