TUMBLEWEED

Taganrog is one of the most charming Russian towns in the south, with rich cultural and historical heritage. Its most famous residents include Russian writer Anton Chekhov and a Soviet actress Faina Ranevskaya who were born and raised here. Unlike other southern Russian cities, Taganrog has miraculously preserved a look and an ambience of a 19th-century merchant town. At times it feels almost like a tropical town with rich vegetation and breathtaking sea views. In fact, some Russians actually choose Taganrog and Azov Sea as their holiday resort so do not be surprised if you see overcrowded beaches in summer. In the 19th century, when Chekhov lived here, Taganrog was a vibrant merchant town with large Greek, Italian and Jewish disporas, whose inhabitants later became the prototypes for Chekhov's characters. However, the people of Taganrog meticulously preserve every object or building linked to their famous fellow townsman. In fact, it's hard to talk about anything in Taganrog without mentioning Anton Pavlovich. The street he was born in now bears his name, as well as the library, the Taganrog university, and the theatre. The houses where Chekhov was born and the house where his family moved later on were turned into museums, as was the school where he studied.