In the Historical Centre
Sea Explorers Museum (Entry into Jerusalem Church)
Totma's most famous landmark is the Entry into Jerusalem Church which dates from 1794. It is typical of the baroque style popular in Totma - a tall two-storey narrow building topped with five domes and attached to a bell tower. The exterior is decorated with cartouches which is also a feature of the Totma baroque style.
The church was closed in the Soviet era and even briefly used as a distillery. Now it is used to hold a museum dedicated to Totma's connection with sea explorers. It may seem a strange choice as Totma is not located on the sea, but it had for centuries made good use of it river links and later many local merchants funded various several sea expeditions. The famous explorer Ivan Kuskov also came from Totma. The museum has three halls detailing the connections and displaying paintings. However it is also worth visiting to go up the bell tower and to see the fragments of frescos which remain inside the former church. The museum is run as a branch of the Totma Museum Association.
Next to the church is a small building which was once the complex's winter church - St John the Baptist's Church. Today it has been converted into a shop.
Location | 1 Ulitsa Lenina |
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Clock | 10:00 - 17:00. Closed on Saturdays. |