The lecture will showcase Astrakhan as a city of contrasts: its khan's past, the 16th-century Kremlin, merchant houses, Art Nouveau, Eastern trading courtyards, the Volga delta, famous fish, and traces of the historical center. Astrakhan often remains off the usual tourist routes, although its history and urban appearance provide material for a significant conversation. Here, a southern fortress coexists with merchant houses, modern facades, Armenian and Persian trading courtyards, river landscapes, and traces of Eastern influence. The city appears multilayered: it embodies both glitter and decay, architectural elegance, and a sense of a border territory between the Volga, the Caspian Sea, and the steppe. The lecturer is Daniil Vedernikov, an architect and tour guide. You can find out where to go in St. Petersburg on our website.