Located on the banks of the Danube River, Izmail lies near Ukraine’s border with Romania. In the 18th-century Russo-Turkish War, it was the site of an Ottoman fortress sacked by Russian general Alexander Suvorov and is now one of the largest Ukrainian ports in the Danube Delta.
You can delve into the past at the Museum of Danube Regional History, which explores the industries, culture and conflicts that have made Izmail what it is today. It occupies a 19th-century mansion once belonging to the Tulchianov merchant family that is an architectural monument in its own right.
Dominating Izmail’s skyline is the Intercession Cathedral, which was constructed in 1831 surrounded by a tree-lined square. Admire its sky-blue exterior and golden domes, together with the Art Nouveau wall painting by Pavel Alekseevich Piskarev. Adjacent to the Intercession Cathedral is the Suvorov Monument, which honours the Russian general’s role in Izmail’s past.
Getting there
Izmail is around four hours’ drive from Odessa and Odessa International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and the Middle East. Regular trains connect from Kyiv to the Izmail railway station and buses travel throughout the city.