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Novgorod the Great, approximately 200 km from St
Petersburg, is one of the major historical and artistic
centres of Russia.
Its Kremlin is mentioned for the first time around the year
1050 and in its walls is located the Cathedral of S.
Sofia of the XI Century. Inside the Cathedral, Russians venerate
the Virgin of the Sign, whose icon is a
significant religious symbol of Russian culture.
Located on the banks of the Volchov river, the city
is representative of the birth of Russian
national sovereignty.
It was once a town of great
political and economic importance, homeland to the
democratic and republican traditions, and protagonist in
various historical struggles between
principalities and people, always aiming at the establishment
of a great Russian state.
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From the XII century the
aristocrats of Novgorod started to elect their
representatives and in 1193 the election of the
archbishop was ratified.
Not by chance, a few years before, in 1169, Prince
Andrej Bogoliubskj sought to eliminate Novgorod, but
without success: the victorious army of Novgorod
repulsed the regiments of the Prince, saving the city.
The victory was theirs, thanks to the protection of the
icon of the Virgin of the Sign, and that is the reason
why the Virgin is venerated by the Russian people.
In the same way, during the XIII century, the city
resisted Mongolian invasion, even if afterwards the
Tartars decided not to attack the city, in exchange of
enormous gold revenues. The city is tied to the
figure of Prince Jaroslavl Mudrij (the Wise), who established the basis of the Russian Law and
made this city one of the great centres of national
education, by creating in 1034 one of the first schools,
with 300 pupils.
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The library of the Cathedral of S. Sophie constituted
the centre of collection of documents, religious books
and written chronicles of Russian medieval history.
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The decline of Novgorod starts during the XVIII century.
Nowadays Novgorod certainly does not testify to the
prestige to the past, remaining a small provincial town,
which did not profit from the economic growth and the
development of the last 50 years. |
Largely exploited as a tourist destination during the
Soviet period and the base of various industries, Novgorod saw a
relative exodus in the Eighties and Nineties; only
recently have efforts been made to attract
cultural tourism, by the renovation of the City.
The most significant monument of the city is the Kremlin,
inside of which is found the Cathedral of S.Sofia .
Novgorod is a significant destination for two days trips.
Its proximity to St Petersburg, makes possible also one
day trips, although the recently renovated hotels,
make it convenient to stay at a reasonable price.
Problems remain in transfers between St Petersburg and
Novgorod, but it is always possible to call (rent) a
private vehicle, to avoid public transport
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