Guardian of cultural heritage Yaroslavl. Part 1

Yaroslavl is an ancient cultural center of Russia. The historical, architectural and artistic wealth of the city attracted the attention of its guests in the XIX century. At the same time, in the second half of the century, the first museums were created here.

The most significant of them was the ancient storage, founded in 1895 at the Yaroslavl Archival Scientific Commission. After 1917, the museum collections of the city were replenished with works from closing churches, monasteries and nationalized property of city estates.

For more than a century of existence, Yaroslavl museums have accumulated experience in working with visitors, know what to interest, surprise and delight them.

The largest museum of the city, Yaroslavl Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve, is located on the territory of the former Spassky Monastery, whose architectural ensemble includes the oldest surviving monuments of Yaroslavl: Spasska Cathedral, Holy Gate, refectory chamber of the XVI century. The monastery belfry is also very popular among tourists, from where, from the observation deck, a wonderful view of the central part of the city opens.

Among the permanent expositions of the museum, you can advise, in addition to visiting the Savior Cathedral, which preserved frescoes of the 1560s, to visit the exposition “Old Russian Art”, where, along with other works, icons from the iconostasis of this temple are presented. Do not forget to visit the exhibition “The Word of Igor’s Regiment” – an outstanding monument of ancient Russian art. Our oldest Russian poem of the XII century was revealed by Count A.I. Musin-Pushkin in the library of the Spassky Monastery at the end of the XVIII century, the museum will tell you in detail about the poem itself, and about the circumstances of its discovery and study.

For nature lovers, the exposition “Nature of the Yaroslavl Region” will certainly be interesting. You can see a live bear in the museum, or rather a bear Masha. She has been living in the Spassky Monastery for more than 6 years. If you are passionate about medieval art, then you definitely need to visit the unique temple-museums of the XVII century of Yaroslavl: Nikola Nadein, the Nativity of Christ, Elijah the Prophet, John the Forerunner, Epiphany. They are open for viewing between May and October.

Especially good is the church of Ilya the Prophet, during the second half of the XVII century, the best artists of that time worked on its decoration This temple is rightly mentioned in all textbooks on the history of Russian art when it comes to the culture of the XVII century. You can deepen your idea of the iconography of Yaroslavl in the Museum of the Metropolitan Chamber. Interesting is the building of the museum, built in the 80s of the XVII century as a way palace of the Rostov Metropolitan Iona Sysoyevich.

In addition to the artistic monuments of the XIV-XVII centuries, a rare icon of the early XIII century – the Savior the Almighty is exhibited in the Metropolitan Chambers.