Vologda is rich with tourist attractions among which can be distinguished the old city center, the Saint Sophia Cathedral, the Resurrection Cathedral, Museum of the Regional History and many others places of interest. Architectural monuments of Vologda attract a lot of visitors due to the beauty of light colors and lace wood carving. Until the middle of the 17th century houses of Vologda were mostly wooden. In the course of time, some of the constructions were lost, however, there are still plenty of monuments of wooden architecture preserved. Most of the city was built in the baroque and neoclassical architectural styles of the 17th and 18th centuries and some buildings represent really priceless heritage.
Vologda’s role as an ancient cultural center is emphasized by unique forms of folk art. For many centuries Vologda has been a center of the woodworking. The city is granted not only for being a major producer of furniture or paper. The most distinguishing features of Vologda’s wood handicrafts consist in the exquisite lace decoration. Woodcarving, represented by the openwork twists and interlacements, forms patterns embellishing buildings of Vologda.
Another type of folk art, hand lace-making, appeared in Vologda in the early XIX century. This craft has a long history and it is still flourishing nowadays being high appreciated on the major international exhibitions, among which there are those of Paris and Brussels.