Moscow is a city that needs no particular introduction, as the city is riddled with landmarks. Wherever you turn, you will be able to see impressive cultural monuments, museums, as well as churches. Visitors will encounter the marvelous Moscow architecture which will surely render them breathless. Just visiting the central square, The Kremlin and St. Basil Cathedral, will make you feel like you are venturing into the city’s history.
Kremlin, when translated literally from Russian, means castle or fortress, and is the center of Russian government, as well as a symbol of Moscow. The Tsar’s residency once stood here, and today, the president lives in this area. However, if you happen to find a picture of the old Kremlin from the end of the 19th century, you may notice that it once used to be white instead of the red color that it is characteristic for today. After certain additional construction was completed, the Kremlin became red. It used to be an important religious center, exemplified by the famous St. Basil Cathedral located in the Red Square.
The Red Square – In the heart of Moscow sits The Kremlin, a fortification that was the center of the Russian Empire until 1703, the center of the Soviet Union from 1918, and the center of the Russian Federation since 1991. Along the eastern wall of the Kremlin lies the Red Square, a place where many state ceremonies take place. The Red Square is where St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Lenin Mausoleum are situated. Nevertheless, the importance of the Kremlin was mostly based on its geographic position. From the south, the area is protected by the merging of two rivers, the Moskva and the Neglinnaya.
The Cathedral of Christ the Savior – The story of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is best started with the manifest of Tsar Alexander I, which first ordered the construction of the building. The manifest is displayed inside the cathedral, and goes as follows: “People of Russia, you of heroic Slavic ancestry! Numerous times have you broken the teeth of the wild beasts who attacked you, eager to swallow you. Contain yourself and come with the Holy Cross in your hearts and your weapons in your arms and you will overcome all force and aggression.”
The Lenin Mausoleum is located in the city center, at the Red Square. Rumor has it that the most modern mummy in the world is situated there, which is the embalmed body of Vladimir Ilych Lenin, lying in a step pyramid built from red granite and black labradorite. Vladimir Lenin, or “The Father of the Revolution” as he is often refered to, died on 21st January, 1924. Even though his last wish was to be buried as everyone else, the newly-established communist government allegedly received over 10 thousand telegrams
Bolshoi Theater was established in the 18th century as a royal theater by the order of Queen Catherine II. Prince Peter loved the theater and arts in general, and the Queen wanted to please him by opening a private theater where Peter could attend plays, balls and costume parties. The building where the Bolshoi Theater is situated in today is actually a building renovated in the 1950s, while the original building perished in a fire several decades earlier. The moment you lay your eyes on the magnificent building, you will be able to see the 8-pillar portico with the statue of Apollo.
