Discover Russia. Includes FREE planning and background information. Before Moscow was capital – before Russia was even a nation – the towns of the Golden Ring were the seats of power of medieval Rus. Some of these towns are now prosperous cities, with industry existing alongside history. Yaroslavl, Kostroma and Vladimir are thriving urban centres, where the golden domes have a little bit of grit on them. Others – Suzdal, Uglich, Rostov-Veliky and Pereslavl-Zalessky – evoke a feeling of time standing still. Dogs and children play in the streets, undisturbed by traffic. Residents live in dilapidated but darling wooden houses, their gardens bursting with flowers. Capitalism is bringing changes, however. Cruise ships ply the Volga, dropping passengers in Plyos and Uglich, small towns now suddenly transformed into holiday resorts. Suzdal, especially, has captured the hearts of many Muscovites in search of a rural retreat. Tourist dollars are fuelling the construction of resorts and restaurants, bowling alleys and bani (bathhouses).