City (pop., 2000 est.: 35,700), west-central Russia.
First mentioned in chronicles in AD 862, Rostov was an outstanding centre of early medieval Russia. It was the capital of the Rostov-Suzdal principality, which came under the control of Moscow in 1474. In the late 16th century it became an important trade centre on the route between Moscow and the White Sea . The traditional handicraft of enamel on metal continues in modern Rostov.