Zilya VALEEVA: Kazan Kremlin feels the tourist trail of Universiade

When has the tourist flow started this year?

Z.V.: We are noticing tourist trail of Universiade. It so happens, that the tourist season reaches its peak from May to September – during this time 1,500-2,000 people visit Kremlin, up to 5,000 people on Saturdays. These are the guests coming via travel companies or on their own. Currently, 644,000 tourists have visited our museum. These are the people who bought the tickets, visited museums and attended tours. Obviously, there are many times more guests.

This week, we start to install scanners at the Kremlin’s entrance. I think, we will know the real number of guests soon, as Kazan Kremlin is the only one to have free entrance and territory available for tourists round the clock. This is important for more than counting purposes. Kremlin is a UNESCO site; we need to know how much pressure it is under.

What is currently under restoration?

Z.V.: This year, Spass-Preobrazhensky Monastery’s site was opened. The construction works are currently taking place within the monastery itself, a Kazan Archeological Museum is due to open there. I hope that next year, we will be able to celebrate the 20 years of Kazan Kremlin museum-reserve at that museum as well.

Also, restoration works continue at the Gun-Metal Yard building complex; there is little work left to be done where the yard’s museum will be.

Museum of Orthodox Christianity is being prepared to open at the lower church of Annunciation Cathedral. I hope it becomes one of the most interesting museums.

Could you reveal to us what exhibitions will open for the visitors soon? 

Z.V.: We continue to collaborate with the largest museums in Russia. We wait for autumn with a special inspiration… It is 180 years since Alexander Pushkin visited Kazan. We plan to open a “Hello, my angel, I am in Kazan” exhibition dedicated to it.

The exhibition-festival will involve the work of the republic’s cultural institutions. Memorial belongings of Alexander Pushkin will be brought to Kazan for the first time. Artists’ and young poets’ contests will be organized with the support from Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan.

“Impressionists and their age” exhibition opens at Hermitage-Kazan centre on the 15th of October. In a way, it reprises an exhibition in Amsterdam. However, ours will include trophy art that cannot be transported out of Russia. Pierre-Auguste Renoir will become the main hero of the exhibition.

Qolsarif Mosque ranks 16 in “Russia 10” project. Do you think it is worthy of a higher rank?

Z.V.: It depends on us. Russia looks for new symbols. Qolsarif is a mosque open for everyone. We can prove that it is one of the most frequently visited landmarks by voting, but at the same time, it is our everyday reality.

What do you think about the information on driving up the number of votes for it?

Z.V.: We cannot be held responsible for those who break the rules. We can score high enough without the hackers, but I have some questions regarding the program. We know little in terms of details, how transparent the system is? There have been many questions from non-governmental organizations regarding the voting and if the mosque is being downgraded.

Is it possible to copy the Moscow’s practice of free museum entrance on certain days?

Z.V.: We use every opportunity to allow people to visit the museum-reserve free of charge. We notice the largest tourist flow on Saturday, and it goes down on Sunday. At the moment, a concessional Sunday family program is being developed.