20 Instagrams That Will Make You Fall In Love With Samara

There is plenty to catch your eye in World Cup host city Samara. Gleaming skyscrapers, impressive statues, constructivist relics and architectural hangovers from Soviet times dot this Volga side port town. Then there is the spectacular scenery just outside the city, the rolling fields and starry skies. With so much to look at, you might miss a game. To avoid that take a look at these Instagrams.

1. Naberezhnaya Embankment

Public sculpture, fountains, food stalls and gardens line this embankment which runs parallel to the Volga River.

Prospekt Volzhsky 43, Samara, Russia
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Sep 12, 2017 at 8:45pm PDT
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on May 7, 2017 at 8:54pm PDT

The Volga region

Head just outside the city limits for some ridiculously picturesque countryside along the Volga River.
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Sep 23, 2017 at 8:55pm PDT
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Aug 21, 2017 at 12:24am PDT
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Jul 8, 2017 at 10:04pm PDT
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Jun 19, 2017 at 10:39pm PDT

Samara’s brutalism

2. Soviet living

Apartment

Communal living and shared domestic space was a driving force in Soviet apartment blocks, and Samara has some whoppers – this one on Lenin Avenue is just under a kilometre in length.

Prospekt Lenina 3, Samara, Russia
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Jul 9, 2017 at 10:27pm PDT
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Jun 4, 2017 at 11:01pm PDT

3. Stela Ladya

Celebrating the pirates who used to lurk around the Volga River and the Zhiguli Mountains in the 15th century, a sculpture of a boat bow juts out towards the river just in front of Samara’s twin towers.
Stela Ladya, Samara, Russia
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Dec 28, 2016 at 9:41pm PST
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Dec 27, 2016 at 10:11pm PST

New Samara

Preparations for the World Cup are seeing slick new buildings and apartment blocks popping up around town.
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Mar 31, 2017 at 8:39pm PDT
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Oct 7, 2016 at 9:38pm PDT

4. Modern Museum and Art Nouveau Architecture

Building, Museum

Samara’s upper class took to art nouveau design in the early 20th century, much of which can still be seen around town. A wealthy merchant’s house is now the Modern Museum, which is dedicated to the city’s penchant for the style

5. Church of the Mother of God

Church

A beautiful gold dome topped church right in the heart of the city.
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Jul 13, 2017 at 10:31pm PDT

6. Samara arena

Stadium

Purpose built for the World Cup 2018, this sports stadium is going to be one of the newest arenas to host a match.

Ulitsa Dalnyaya, Samara, Russia
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Apr 15, 2017 at 9:11pm PDT

7. Samara beach

Packed with people during the warmer months, the long, wide sandy banks of the Volga River in Samara is one of Russia’s best landlocked beaches.

City Beach, Samara, Russia
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on May 31, 2017 at 9:27pm PDT
A post shared by Самара и область (@63_region) on Aug 23, 2017 at 11:02pm PDT
Shout out to @63_region for sharing their photos. If you think Samara is a gem, check out how good looking another World Cup host city, Kazan is.

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