Kazan is situated in southwest Russia, alongside the Volga and Kazanka rivers. It serves as the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, a semi-autonomous region.

The city is renowned for the ancient Kazan Kremlin, a fortified citadel housing museums and religious sites. Notable landmarks within the Kremlin include the tiered Tower of Soyembika, the Annunciation Cathedral with its distinctive blue-and-gold domes, and the expansive and vibrant Kul Sharif Mosque.