Let’s explore new capital of Kazakhstan! We will see both old and new parts of the city, learn about geography, climate, population, religions, architecture, national cookery, economy, history and many other subjects. While travelling we can visit buildings by famous architects: Alibek Rustambekovk Tortai brothers, Normann Foster, Kesi Kurokawa, Renato Archetti, Manfredo Nicoletti, Zaha Khadid and others. We can visit Baiterek tower, presidential district, World EXPO 2017, beautiful mosques, orthodox and catholic churches and synagogue. We will see several sport centers and learn about achievement of Kazakhstan sportsmen. Welcome to Astana!!
City tour Astana
Let’s explore new capital of Kazakhstan! We will see both old and new parts of the city, learn about geography, climate, population, religions, architecture, national cookery, economy, history and many other subjects. While travelling we can visit buildings by famous architects: Alibek Rustambekovk Tortai brothers, Normann Foster, Kesi Kurokawa, Renato Archetti, Manfredo Nicoletti, Zaha Khadid and others. We can visit Baiterek tower, presidential district, World EXPO 2017, beautiful mosques, orthodox and catholic churches and synagogue. We will see several sport centers and learn about achievement of Kazakhstan sportsmen. Welcome to Astana!!
Baiterek tower was designed by local architect Anuar Rustambekov to illustrate beliefs of ancient nomad about the Universe. It symbolises a tree of life (Baiterek in kazakh language means the poplar). It supports the sky from falling down upon the Earth by its roots. With its roots the tree keeps the Earth from falling down in Tartar. Between the roots a river flows that divides life from death.
Khan Shatyr is a project of well-known british architect Norman Foster. Initial idea was aimed at New York to build huge cover over several dstricts and maintain artificial climate beneath it. For some reasons this idea was rejected and then he made a suggestion to Astana. Here it was realize in smaller scale, but after 8 years of successful exploitation the bigger cover will be built behind Khan Shatyr. Its diameter is going to be 4 km.
This futuristic building is surprisingly is dedicated to the past, it is Naional museum. The museum is new, it was built in 2012. It has very interesting halls of gold, ethnography and history. These are exhibited permanently, others change from time to time. The very minimum time for the museum is 1,5 hours.
Russian orthodox church is one of two biggest confessions in Kazakhstan, it counts up to 40% of population. Ethnically it is mixed very much. This church was build in Y'2012 and now is assigned the Principal church of Kazakhstan. A gift from Roman Catholic church is exposed here, holy relics of apostol Andrew.
ALZhIR - former camp for political prisoners. Time of Joseph Stalin remains very controversial and divisive issue in Kazakhstan. Official position regarding it is denounsation, this museum expresses the negative sentiment in full. By other hand, many people, even those who suffered during his rule praise him for honesty. This group of people is decreasing inevitably due to their age, those are only real witnesses of history. The remainder is propaganda.
Museum of military history is brand new, it was established in Y'2017 in the buidling of Presidential Center of Culture. It collects items from various collections and exposes artifacts from middle age arms to modern weaponry. Big part of this museum is the Great Patriotic war - special name for a part of World War Two, which took place within borders of USSR. From Kazakhstan about 1,5 million people were enlisted, more than 600 thousands of them never came back.
Museum of ethnography and nomadic jewelry represents lifestyle of nomads, their homestead (a yurt with rich decoration), household, hunt and art items. All items are made by the owner and his family. For bigger groups a meal may be served at this setting (in the yard or in the yurt).
World EXPO was held in Astana in Y2017, its subject was Renewable Energy. The event was massive and popular - at the target 2 mln visitors almost 4 mln people came, 115 countries and 22 companies participated. The budget was quite modest - USD1.3 Bln. Compared to previous events in Italy, China, Korea and Japan its budget was 7-11 time less. Now the Central (Kazakhstan) pavillion operates as the museum of technology. Buildings of national pavillions are transferred to newly established International Financial Center Astana, IT Startup park and United Nations.