We are going to take a short trip around the nearest Moscow suburbs. Despite the development of infrastructure, these towns manage to preserve their historical uniqueness. In the next two days we will see pre-revolutionary wooden buildings of Kashira, coziness of Zaraisk and Kolomensky Kremlin.
Today our day will start from the manor of Princes Golitsyns. It turned out that 6 kilometers from Podolsk hides a real architectural treasure. During the day we will get acquainted with ancient Kashira. It's quite a big town which will definitely surprise you. For the evening we'll plan to have a dinner in one of the few restaurants in Zaraisk.
Because of its proximity to Moscow, the place is quite touristy. Leave your car a little further away from the main entrance, near industrial buildings, painted with graffiti. Our journey begins with the Temple of the Sign of the Most Holy Mother of God. The Mysterious Temple. It's hard to believe it's Orthodox. During the construction it took the workers 15 years only to carve stone, but what the result!
Nestled on the summer veranda, you can watch the flow of life in Chekhov. The austere, laconic interior and a varied menu: from beer snacks to salmon "Siciliana" with cream sauce and shrimp.
The decaying romanticism and classicism. The silhouette of the manor house is hidden behind the shrubbery, and a small forest has formed inside. Walk under the ancient arches, listening to the sounds of the surroundings. Be aware that there is a lot of snow in winter and the paths may not be there. Dress appropriately if you plan to explore the manor house.
Intelligent city of Kashira for lovers of architecture. Pre-revolutionary development and graffiti on "new" houses. Constructivism and two-storey freshly painted wooden houses with TV plates. Pleasant city for a leisurely stroll.
The opposite bank of the Oka River adorns the monastery, which from afar resembles a fortress. Indeed, the military defense function of the building was performed many centuries ago. It was also a prison for prisoners, whose hands were used to build the bridge across the river. Now the Empire and the Moscow Baroque complement each other beautifully. On the territory there are neat benches, broken flower beds and peace. Officials ask to refrain from taking pictures.
It is also an observation deck. Alas, we didn't have time to climb it and see the city, as the entrance closes at three o'clock in the afternoon. But it looks nice from the outside, too.
Isn't it time to stop on vacation? You can warm up, fill up and buy goods on the way at Gazpromneft's filling stations.
A cafe in the heart of Zaraisk. Here you can sit wonderfully by the window, peeking out over the city.
The morning walk along the Kremlin of Zaraisk and its suburbs will be replaced by the walk in Kolomna Kremlin, pastila tasting and original excursion.
Feel the coziness of a small old town while wandering around the Kremlin territory. The historical quarter of Zaraisk is preserved almost in pristine condition.
Let's continue our day with a walk around the Kolomna Kremlin, soaking up the smells and atmosphere of antiquity. In front of us is a real monument of defensive architecture, built by Italian masters. By the way, this Kremlin is not inferior in size to Moscow Kremlin.
Afterwards, we'll have lunch at the literary café. Everything here is styled like the old times: the interior, the menu, the costumes of the waiters and, of course, the food.
After dinner, we will have a small tea-tasting of Kolomna's special sweet - marshmallow, and make sure to buy some to go. Excursion order in advance by phone at [site](https://kolomnapastila.ru/museum/).
At the soap shop you can learn more about how soap was made in the 19th century and soak up the atmosphere of this century. You can find out more about the tours and book them on [website](https://d-radosti.ru/muzej). The tour starts at 16:30 and afterwards there will be time to buy handmade cosmetics for yourself and your loved ones.