Suzdal, Russia

One of the most impressive religious buildings is the Intercession Convent, the renown place where many noblewomen were sent into exile, including Ivan the Terrible's mother and the first wife of Peter the Great.

Another beautiful place in Suzdal is the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. Although the Cathedral's main walls date to the 16th century, the carved white stones at the base originated in the days before the Mongol-Tatar invasion of the 12th century.

The cathedral's five blue domes are dotted with glittering golden stars while its doors hold beautiful scenes from the New Testament. Inside look for breathtaking 13th-century frescos.

Another place not to miss is the Suzdal Museum of Wooden Art where the best wooden crafts from all over Russia are displayed.

The city's charm is so great that it was left untouched by the Soviet industrialization which destroyed so much of Russia's heritage. It is no wonder artists come by the score to sit in its quiet lanes and absorb inspiration.

Suzdal is a small town by itself, but every inch of it is unique and vibrant. The abundance of wooden architecture creates an entrancing atmosphere of rural calmness and serenity, while Suzdal's host of old domed churches, bell-towers, and monasteries testifies to its status as a spiritual center.