The tour about russian cities. Text 7 European part.

Exercise 1. What famous cities do you know in European part of Russia? What are they famous for? What cities, towns and settlements are famous for their crafts?

Exercise 2. Listen to the text about one of such cities. Write down the missed information.

1) Tula stands on the banks of the ______________________________

2) Inside the walls of the Kremlin there are ________________ cathedrals.

3) The second cathedral is _________________________________now.

4) _____________________ began to develop weapon plants in Tula.

5) The unique museum in Tula is the museum of _________________

6) In a special room of this museum we can taste ____________________

7) On the bank of the Upa we can visit ________________________

8) There is the Shcheglovsky _______________________in Tula.

9) On the territory of the city cemetery we can visit a huge ___________ of All Saints.

Exercise 3. Read the text and get ready to find answers to following questions:

1. What are the most characteristic features of Rostov-on-the-Don?

2. When and why was it founded?

3. How did it get its name?

4. How was this city commemorated during the Civil war?

The southern part of Russia is rich in famous places. Rostov region is one of them. Here we can speak first of all about the regional centre Rostov-on-the-Don itself. It has its own special characteristic features. If Moscow is “a big village”, Rostov-on-the-Don is “a big Cossack stanitsa”. In spite of the large size of this city the interpersonal relations are simple and sincere. People always show their real attitude to each other without hypocrisy. Citizens are proud of their city and can speak about it for hours. Now Rostov-on-the-Don includes famous Nakhichevan into its territory.

Rostov-on-the-Don is the port of 5 seas, a great industrial, scientific and cultural centre of the country, important centre of communication. The poets call it “the most brisk city of the south”.

It was founded in 1749 on the right bank of the Don 46 km from the Azov Sea. First it was only the customs point. Then in 1760 a fortress was built and it got the name of Dmitry Rostovsky, then Rostov and later Rostov-on-the-Don in order not to mix it with Rostov the Great. It has a good geographical position and turned into the port for Russian, Greek, Italian, Turkish, Armenian and Persian merchants.

Certainly Rostov has a Local Lore museum. The process of its creation began in 1862. The most interesting hall is devoted to the First World War and the Civil War. Here we can see the model of the field hospital with real articles: syringes, bloody bandages, medical boxes, etc. And certainly one of the most interesting exhibits is “Tachanka-Rostovchanka”

Exercise 4. Read the text and say why Taganrog contributed greatly to the history of Russia.

Taganrog is the town on the bank of the Azov Sea. Only here you can see a frozen sea. The first fortress was laid here by Peter I in 1696. This town is considered to be the cradle of the first Russian Azov fleet. We can see the monument to Peter I in one of the streets. After the defeat in the war with Turkey the fortress was destroyed and only in 1735 it was restored and in 1774 according to the decree of Katherine II Taganrog became a town. Some famous people lived here for some years. Emperor Alexander I lived here in Grecheskaya Street. P.I.Chaikovsky spent some years here. Now there is a library and a museum in his house. Taganrog is the birthplace of A.P.Chekhov. He lived in Politseyskaya Street. The monument to him was opened in 1903 and in 1920s Chekhov museum was established in Taganrog.

Exercise 5. Read the text and say why this town is of interest to archeologists and historians.

The next famous town in Rostov region is Azov. During the reign of Peter I there was only a fortress here. Originally it was a Turkish fortress. In the archeological-historical museum one can see the richest collection of the items of the Bronze and Iron Ages, of Medieval period and the treasures of Sarmation Gold. The exhibitions tell about the history and nature, about paintings and applied art of Azov area.

In the streets of Azov we can see the memorials devoted to the time of Peter I. They include the cannons of that time and the monument to him.

Exercise 6. Read the text and say: a) why Aksai is considered to be the centre of Cossak traditions;

b) how one can spend time at the Cossak festival.

In Rostov region there is another small settlement worth visiting. It is Aksai. It is the centre of Cossack traditions. Every summer there is a Cossack festival here. We can see Cossacks in their traditional dress, listen to their songs, see their dances and even take part in this event. There is also a fair which take place near the church. Here we can taste dishes of special Don Cossack cuisine and buy things of applied art.