Tours by American Denis Keen: from Malaya Stanitsa to Golden Square

Route thread: St. Kazan Church - Green Bazaar - The Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen - The "Oriental Calendar" fountain.

Route description:

This tour shows Almaty through the eyes of an American guide who loves Kazakh culture. Denis Keen's Walking Almaty project began as his way of answering his own questions about the city he moved to in 2013. His tours are interesting not only for foreigners but even for locals, who can learn a lot of little-known facts about Almaty.

Denis Keen pays attention to the details of the urban landscape, such as sgraffito, murals, memorial plaques, old window frames, doors, ditches, and canals; he always has something to say about each of them. He created lots of routes. Foreigners are very fond of the Green Bazaar, but Dennis himself prefers the city's outskirts, such as Malaya Stanitsa more.

Kazan Cathedral, one of the oldest and most significant Orthodox churches in the Kazakhstan Republic, was built at the end of the 19th century.

"Green Bazaar" is a historical market surrounded by the greenery of the Medeu district. Its roots go back to 1868 when a trade center was created at the intersection of several streets.

This Park, named after the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, is an architectural and historical pearl of Almaty that carefully preserves its history, starting from its foundation in 1872. The city's most famous park was founded on the site of an old cemetery; several graves are still preserved on the territory.

In 1980, an unusual fountain called the "Oriental Calendar", more often known as "Zodiac Signs", appeared in Almaty.