Download the map of the Monuments of the Sophia Side route (.jpg)

1. White (Alekseevskaya) Tower is the only survived stone tower of the outer defensive belt of the end of the late 16th - 17th cc.

2. Church of St. Blaise in the city center at the Sophia Side was built in 1407 to replace more ancient wooden church of 1184. The Christian cult of St. Blaise, the patron of cattle, is the evolution of the ancient pagan cult of God Volos or Veles. It is likely that in the ancient times on the place where the church is today there was the idol of Volos. The church is closed to visitors.

3. Desyatinny Convent of the Nativity of Our Lady, 14th c. In the Novgorod republic age there were archbishop’s housing, monastic cells, reception rooms and dining halls that proved its high importance of the convent at that time. The buildings of the 19th – 20th cc. were preserved till these days. They house exhibition halls of the State Arts and Culture Museum of Novgorod Land and artists’ studios.

• Porcelain Museum
• Exposition Cultural Heritage of Novgorod Cloisters

4. Church of the Twelve Apostles on the Abyss. For the first time the church was mentioned in chronicle of 1230 in connection with the building of a common grave nearby for victims of the plague. Nowadays the small church with exquisitely fine proportions is one of the finest examples of 15th-century architecture. The architect adopted the traditional forms of Novgorodian churches of the 14th and early 15th centuries and reduced the decorative elements to an absolute minimum.

The church is closed to visitors.

5. The Hall of Military Glory. The exposition reproduces a thousand-year history of participation of Novgorodians in protection of their city and motherland.

6. City of Military Glory Stele was opened just before the 65th anniversary of the Victory Day. The granite ten-meter column, topped with the emblem of Russia, is placed in the centre of the square, close to Rossiya Cinema Center. On the forepart of its pedestal, there is a cartouche with the text of the Decree of the President about giving to Veliky Novgorod the title of the City of Military Glory. On the other side of the pedestal the emblem of the city is set. Four mini steles are placed at the corners of the square; one can see scenes of four historical periods of the military glory of Veliky Novgorod pictured on them: Ancient Rus, Moscow Kingdom, Russian Empire and Contemporary history.

7. Museum of Fine Arts. Exposition "Russian art in the 18th-20th century". From 1851 this exposition was held in the building from 1851, built according to the project of the architect A.I.  Stackenschneider (1802 – 1865). In 2001 the building was converted into the Museum of Fine Arts that now hosts the exposition of Russian art in the 18th-20th century, which displays a vast collection of Russian paintings, graphic arts and sculptures. The collection of miniature portraits is amazing for its genre and stylistic diversity.

8. The map of medieval Novgorod depicts Novgorod region as it looked before joining the Principality of Moscow in 1478. It was created in six months by the Novgorod sculptor Vadim Borovykh. Also, in addition to the exposition, an audio guide and an augmented reality application for mobile devices have been developed, links and QR codes are located on the information board installed next to the map layout.

9. Musical Statue of Sergey Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff was one of the greatest musicians of the 19th – 20th cc. His life was closely connected with the Novgorod land. The monument was unveiled on June 14th, 2009.

10. Church of St. Theodore Stratilates on Schirkova Street. This marvelous church has a distinctive mature architectural design. It is a fine example of the early 15th century. The church is made of large limestone blocks while its fine decorative elements are made of brick. 

 See also:

• Tourist Route №1. The Novgorod Kremlin
• Walking Route Monuments of Nerevsky End