Kostroma is a city and administrative centre of Kostroma oblast (province), western Russia. It lies along the middle Volga River about 200 miles (320 km) northeast of Moscow. It is believed to have been founded in 1152 by Yury Dolgoruky, but the first documentary evidence of the town dates from 1213. It became an important commercial center after it was annexed by Moscow in 1364. Kostroma is famous for the standard Russian landscape. There is a plenty of unique historical monuments. The region is famous for its original culture and life style. That is why Kostroma is attractive for tourists. Such ancient cities of the Kostroma territory as Galich, Makariyev, Kologriv, Nerekhta are picturesque and unique. The regional centre with its fine architectural monuments is included into the world famous tourist route "The Gold Ring". In the Kostroma the ancient spiritual traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church are being restored to life. Here were again opened temples and monasteries, where one can get acquainted with life of monks. To the sanctuaries of the Kostroma belongs the Feodorskaya Icon of Mother of God kept in the Bogoyavlensky-Anastasiinsky nunnery. Church of Resurrection on Debra, a masterpiece of the Kostroma architecture of XVII c., is considered a pearl of the Upper Volga region.