Rostov on Don, with a population of nearly 1.2 million, is a city in the South Eastern European Russia, the Capital of the Rostov Region and the administrative center of the North Caucasus District. It is located on the banks of the Don River, near its entrance to the Sea of Azhov. It is a major port and rail hub and an important industrial, cultural and scientific center. One of Russia’s leading producers of agricultural machinery, the city also has ship and locomotive repair yards, food processing plants, mechanical engineering works and factories that manufacture chemicals, building materials, electrical equipment and road building machinery.

The city was founded in the year 1749, when by a decree from Empress Elizabeth, a customs house was created on the mouth of the Temerik River. Later, a fortress named after Saint Dmitry Rostovsky was built to protect the customs house. The settlements that appeared around the fortress were called Rostov on Don.

Among the various cultural landmarks are the many Theatres for the performing arts, the Rostov Regional Museum of Fine Arts, the Don State Public Library, the philharmonic Society and many music schools. There are over 650 monuments of historical and cultural value in the city.

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