Sviyazhsk Island is located in the picturesque estuary of Sviyaga on a high hill area of 62 hectares, 30 kilometers from Kazan. The abundant nature surrounding shallows, inlets and islands since ancient times attracted people. Later Sviyazhsk fate was such that a small area of the island blew events associated with the most important moments of national history.

Sviyazhsk was built in 1551, after the unsuccessful campaign of the troops of Ivan the terrible against Kazan. Prior to re-attack the king decided that near impregnable city to do a base. And a small island between the rivers Sviyaga and Pike fit for this purpose perfectly.
But to begin large-scale construction under the very noses of the enemy was impossible. Therefore, it was decided to collect under the Uglich fortress, and then translate large fragments in the water on rafts to the island. That is, Sviyazhsk was founded as a ancient designer. Walls, guard towers, barracks, houses and temples – it was built in just four weeks. The Tatars did not even have time to recover. Moreover, the size of Sviyazhsk at the time surpassed the territory of the Moscow and Novgorod Kremlin.
By the way, the plan of Ivan the terrible worked best, just a year later, the reference point played an important role in the fall of Kazan. Until 1719, the press remained a military fortress until he was given the city status. The "black page" in the history of the settlement of the XX century. On the territory of the island colony, which was brought first repressed, and after and criminals. There was a mental hospital and carried out mass executions of "enemies of the people".
Only in 2010 began a large-scale historical reconstruction of Sviyazhsk. And now it's architectural, cultural and historical monument, which is visited annually by thousands of tourists.