Ryazan is the largest city and administrative center of Ryazan Oblast, Russia. The city is located on right bank of the Oka River in Central Russia, 196 kilometers southeast of Moscow. Ryazan is among the most ancient cities of Russia.
As of the 2010 Census, Ryazan had a population of 524,927, an increase from 521,560 in 2002, making it the 33rd most populated city in Russia, and the 4th most populated in Central Russia after Moscow, Voronezh, and Yaroslavl.
An older city, now named Staraya Ryazan, was located near modern-day Ryazan during the late Middle Ages, and served as capital of the Principality of Ryazan. During the Mongol invasion of Rus, the one was one of the first in Russia to be besieged and completely razed. The capital was subsequently moved to Peryslavl-Ryazansky, and renamed into Ryazan by the order of Catherine the Great in 1778 later.
The city is known for the Ryazan kremlin, a historic museum; the Pozhalostin Ryazan Regional and State Art Museum, one of the oldest art museums in Russia; the Memorial Museum-Estate of Academician I.P. Pavlov; and the Ryazan Museum of Long-Range Aviation.