Kazan is defined by its mighty Kremlin, named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000. As you arrive, the most striking thing about its Kremlin is the pristine white walls mirrored by the ivory government buildings and presidential palace. The Kremlin reflects the ethnic mix of the Russians and Tatars and their combined places of worship.
The magnificent Kol Sharif mosque is the largest mosque in Europe and home to a rich collection of ancient books. The mosque was reconstructed in 2005, replacing the original façade that was destroyed by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century. The Orthodox Church also has an architectural masterpiece in Kazan's Kremlin. The Annunciation Cathedral is a gem not to be missed; completed in 1561, it is believed to have been designed by Yakovlev, the architect behind St Basil's in Moscow.
Like most ancient cities, Kazan abounds with legends. In the Kremlin you will find the Söyembikä tower, named for the last queen of Kazan. Ivan the Terrible was struck by her beauty and proposed to her, but she accepted on the condition that he build the tallest tower in Kazan in seven days. Ivan accomplished this, each tier of the tower being finished one day after the next. The grief-stricken Söyembikä climbed the finished tower and jumped to her death. The modern visitor is no longer allowed to climb the tower because, rather like the leaning Tower of Pisa, the Söyembikä tower has begun to tilt despite efforts to stabilize it.
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