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Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings

Situated on the ancient trade route between Central Asia and northern Europe, Novgorod was Russia's first capital in the 9th century. Surrounded by churches and monasteries, it was a centre for Orthodox spirituality as well as Russian architecture. Its medieval monuments and the 14th-century frescoes of Theophanes the Greek (Andrei Rublev's teacher) illustrate the development of its remarkable architecture and cultural creativity.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/604

The Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings are a veritable 'conservatory' of Russian architecture of the Middle Ages and later periods (11th-19th centuries). 

(Veliky) Novgorod in North-Western Russia was an important center on the trade route between the Baltics and Central Asia. It developed into one of the major centres of Russian culture and spirituality.

A broad range of monuments has been conserved:

- St Sophia Cathedral, built between 1045 and 1050 the first one to represent original features of Russian architecture (austere stone walls, five helmet-like cupolas). 

- The Novgorod Kremlin, traditionally known as the Detinets, also contains the oldest palace in Russia.

- Church of the Transfiguration, decorated with frescoes at the end of the 14th century by Theophanes the Greek

- Church of Neredica 

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/novgorod.html