Togliatti: A city shaped by cars, mountains and Italian Communist

Togliatti is the second largest city in the Samara region, 500 miles southeast of Moscow. At the moment it has a population of about 720 thousand people.

The city's name was changed to Togliatti in 1964, after Palmiro Togliatti, the longest-serving secretary of the Italian Communist Party. Prior to this, it was known as Stavropol-on-Volga.

The city's main claim to fame has been automobile manufacturing by AvtoVAZ's Lada (Zhiguli) car plants, employing some 110,000 people: in cooperation with Italy's Fiat since 1970 and with General Motors since 2001.

In 2011 the Togliatti Special Economic Zone was first introduced to further develop the region and diversify the economy of the city. Several auto-component producers have since been registered, as well as large industrial manufacturers.

Togliatti has been considered as Russia's automotive capital. The car manufacturing company, covering an area of 500 hectares, was constructed in a record short time.

This particular car was promoted by the Russian President himself. Vladimir Putin make 2,000-kilometer drive across Siberia in this canary-yellow Lada Kalina in 2010.

The culture in the City of Togliatti is the unique phenomenon for a young Russian city that has an interesting 272 – year history.

Taking a bird-eye's view and you will admire how generous nature is to the city. Togliatti lies on vast steppes, on the bank of the Volga the great Russian river, close to the ancient Zhiguli mountains.

The city blends well with the surrounding land, keeping the harmony of nature.

The city's transport infrastructure is linked to the international airport Kurumoch, situated about 60 km outside Togliatti. Two railway stations and a river port are also available for external transportation.

Due to its unique geographic position Togliatti can be a continental level hub, connecting North and South Eurasia by waterway.

The city's surroundings also have their places of interest. The great Russian river Volga amazes with its breadth, loftiness, expanse and beauty. A cruise around will be a real pleasure, as Zhiguli mountains are exceptionally picturesque in the background.