Spassky monastery
The monastery was surrounded by powerful walls, parts of which you can see nowadays (they are almost 400 years old). The main church of the monastery is also the oldest building left in Yaroslavl: Spaso-Preoprazhensky cathedral (Savior Transfiguration cathedral), which is almost 500 years old (the foundation is 800 years old).
It was built very skillfully in the best traditions of Russian architecture of the time. It was the idea of the creators, that the cathedral will be different, depending from which side you to look at it: the domes are put non-symmetrically, there are different arches and various paintings on the different sides of the cathedral.
It is a good place to start your sightseeing. You can get on the top of the bell tower. Save your breath though, because you'll need to climb quite a steep staircase. The reward is a great panoramic view of the city.
Nowadays, on the territory of the monastery there's also a museum of history of Yaroslav region, and an exhibition of ancient Russian paintings, crafts, old hand-written and printed books.
Spassky monastery: 25, Bogoyavlenskaya sq. Phones: (0852) 30-38-69. Open: 10.00-17.30, Mo closed.