Almaty is one of the most beautiful and spacious cities of Kazakhstan. It is a former capital of the country and one of the nicest cities in whole Central Asia. It’s situated at the foot of the emerald Tien-Shan ridges and many people call it “a garden city”. Almaty is a sunny and green city with wide streets, numerous parks, gardens, fountains, and beautiful architecture. The city is full of interesting places and millions of tourists visit it every year. One of the most famous sights is the Republic Square, which is the central square of the city. It contains magnificent ensembles of modern architecture. The City Hall, the President’s Southern Residence and the television center are also situated near here. East of the square one can find the Central State Museum. This museum is quite popular among the city visitors. Originally found in Orenburg the museum has moved to Almaty in 1930. Nearly 120,000 exhibits present the history and culture of Kazakhstan in four exhibition halls. Another attractive museum is the Museum of Kazakh Folk Instruments. It houses over 1,000 exhibits and 60 types of Kazakh folk instruments, including some that belonged to famous singers, poets and composers. The most popular musical instruments included the dombra and the kobyz. Central Bazaar is another Almaty sight. It is also known as the Green Bazaar. Here tourists can experience a true taste of the East. This is not just a market. It’s a place where numerous Asian cultures meet. The President’s Palace is another famous landmark. It was erected in 1980 and still contains some of the Soviet-era style architecture. The city is also full of beautiful mosques, cathedrals, theatres, parks and gardens.
