Rostov the Great was founded in 862. It is situated on the bank of Lake Nero. The population is about 37 000 inhabitants.

The name of Lake Nero means “silty, marshy” in Finnish. Lake Nero is more than 50 sq.km in area and 13 km long.

The historical centre of Rostov the Great is the Rostov Kremlin. It was built in late 17th century. The splendid ensemble of the kremlin dominates the surroundings creating a very special festive atmosphere. Everything here speaks of bygone days, remote pages of Russian history.

Besides, there are two monasteries in Rostov the Great – the Saviour Monastery of St Jacob and the Abraham Monastery. They were built in 14th and in 11-12th centuries respectively.

Yet Rostov the Great is famous for the Rostov enamels. In the 18th century Rostov became a centre for producing enamel insets and individual articles. The insets were used mainly to decorate church plate. The enameled insets depicting subjects were multi-coloured, necessitating several firings, and were particularly valued. With time the demand for these insets decreased, and the masters turned instead to making powder cases, hand mirrors, earrings, bracelets and portrait brooches.

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