The city of Perm is on the Kama river in the eastern foothills of the Ural Mountains. There are interesting walking routes, as well as museums where you can get acquainted with the history of the Ural and Kama regions.
Of a special interest is the art gallery with its collection of wooden sculptures known as the «Gods of Perm». The tradition of making wooden sculptures of Jesus Christ was spread in the north of Perm Krai in the 17th century. The official church considered it as idolatry but could do nothing about it. This collection has an all-Russian importance as there is no such thing in the other regions of Russia.
In the historical part of the city there remained the buildings of the 19 century. The most beautiful of them – those of Gribushin and Youth Theatre – were built in the style of modern. On Sibirskaya Street you can see the houses of merchants and the nobility, including the House of Dyagilev, where he spent his childhood and youth.
When planning a trip to Perm you must spare a day for Kungur Ice Cave and the White Hill Monastery. Kungur Ice Cave is probably the most famous and most beautiful karst cave in Russia. It is near the town Kungur, 100 kilometers to the south of Perm.
Belogorsky Convent is not far (about 50 km) from the cave, on Belaya Gora (White Mountain). At the beginning of the 20th century the convent was called the Ural Athos. However, you must remember that if you want to visit both the places in a single day, you should try and visit the cave early in the morning.
On the bank of the Kama to the north of Perm is the village Khokhlovka where a wooden architecture museum is located. And if you can not go to Kungur, you must visit the museum to see traditional Ural architecture.
