The southernmost part of the Russian Steppes was an 18th century Cossack outpost and trading center. Today this 'Gateway to the Caucasus' leads to the Ukraine and is an industrial and agricultural center. Its magnificent parks and beaches, theaters and museums, and unusual botanical gardens with vast collections of rare and beautiful plants make Rostov the most attractive city on the Don River.

A beautiful city surrounded by outlying villages, Saratov was established by German settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Chemyshevsky, the famous Russian writer and democrat was born here and Yuri Gagarin, the world's first cosmonaut was a member of the Saratov Flying Club.

Stretching along the Volga River for 43 miles is Volgograd. This thriving center was built as a living monument to the valor and courage of the defenders of Stalingrad during World War II, whose steadfastness created the major turning point of the war.

Samara Founded in the 16th century. Samara today is an important industrial and cultural center of the region. Formerly known as Kuibyshev, the city played a big role in the Peasant Uprising of 1670 under Styepan Razin and again in 1773 under Yemeljan Pugachev. Recently Stalin's bunker was discovered here and opened to the public.

Formerly known as Ulianovsk, the birth-place of Vladimir Ilich Ulianov, known to the world as V.I. Lenin, the city was a Soviet shrine for almost 70 years. The huge Lenin Memorial Complex includes the house in which he was born, his grammar school and other buildings associated with his life.

NIZHNY NOVGOROD

Founded in 1221, this city was a famous meeting place where people from the Orient, Siberia and Turkistan came to barter and trade. Formerly named Gorki, it was closed to foreigners for many years because of local military industries. Nizhny Novgorod has many well preserved memorials from the 13th and 14th centuries. Of special interest is the ancient Kremlin with cathedrals, convents and the palace.

YAROSLAVL

Stretching for 18 miles on both banks of the Volga, Yaroslavl is an important Volga port with a population of 600,000. It was founded in the 11-th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise and today retains many noteworthy monuments of its colorful past. Of special interest is the magnificent 13th-century Spassky Monastery ensemble, a group of majestic 17th century cathedrals, an elegant rotunda and remnants of an ancient trading center. Loveliest of all is the Church of Elijah the Prophet, situated in the town's central square. The frescoes on the walls and vaulting inside the church constitute a veritable museum of old Russian paintings.

KOSTROMA

One of the loveliest cities of the Golden Ring, Kostroma is certainly a highlight of the cruise. The pride of Kostroma is the museum of the former Ipatyevsky Monastery founded in the 14th century by the Zemov family, the forebearers of the Godunovs. The crypt of the Monastery became the Godunov burial vault. Kostroma is the only Russian city retaining the classical layout of the 18th/19th centuries, with streets and boulevards fanning out like the spokes of a wheel from a central square. Of special interest will be a visit to the outdoor museum village, 'Berengeevka.'

UGLICH

Uglich was founded in 1148. Uglich is one of the most beloved towns in old Russia. The view of the town as it is approached from the Volga River is especially lovely with the Cathedral of the Resurrection and St. John's Church looming on the horizon. At the end of the 16th century, Maria Nagaya, seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible, lived in honorary exile in the Kremlin at Uglich. It was here in her garden that the Czarevich Dmitry met his death and where the Church of St. Demitrius of the Blood was built and still stands today. Within the Kremlin is the oldest building in Uglich, the Palace of

MOSCOW

Spend three glorious days in this exciting city while your ship is docked in port. You will tour the Kremlin, visit Red Square and marvel at the Byzantine splendor of St. Basil's multi-colored onion-domed cathedral. You will be taken on an optional tour to the Pushkin Museum, as well as the Armory Museum, where you'll admire numerous treasures of the czars, including spectacularly famous jewels, crowns, thrones and royal armor.

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