The main attractions of Moscow

The Kremlin

For centuries, the Moscow Kremlin has been witness of many famous and tragic events in Russian history. Enemy guns blasted its walls and revolutionaries have been celebrated in front of it. The Kremlin is now one of the largest museums of the world with Russian state regalia, precious icons and treasures of the czars stored throughout the massive structure.

Red Square

Red Square separates the Kremlin from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitaygorod. According to ancient chronicles, Red Square appeared at the end of 15th Century when Ivan III ordered the destruction of all wood buildings around the area in fear of fire outbreaks. The cleared land then became a market, and that's how the first name of the square - Trade Square ("Torgovaya") appeared. In the 16th Century the square was renamed "Troitskaya (Trinity) Square" after the Church of Saint Trinity. The name "Red Square" was brought into use in the 17th Century not because of the area's brick color, but rather the Russian word for red "krasnaya" also means "beautiful".

Poklonnaya Mountain

Poklonnaya Hill (bow-down hill) is one of the highest points in Moscow and historically a place of strategic military important. It is also the site of the most significant monument constructed in memory of Russia's victory in World War II – Victory Park.

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior

The temple was commissioned in 1812 under orders from Alexander I in celebration of Napoleon's retreat. Construction was continuously delayed and the Cathedral was not christened until 1883 when Alexander III was in power. The cathedral was torn down in 1931 under order's from Stalin's government to build the Palace of the Soviets – which was never actually built due to lack of funding and World War II. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Cathedral was rebuilt in 1995.

Novodevichy Convent

Novodevichy Convent, also known as Bogoroditse-Smolensky Monastery is probably the best-known cloister of Moscow. Its name, sometimes translated as the New Maidens' Monastery, was devised to differ from an ancient maidens' convent in the Moscow Kremlin. Unlike other Moscow cloisters, it has remained virtually intact since the 17th century. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

St. Basil'S Cathedral

Named after an Orthodox Saint, St. Basil's is the colorful cathedral on Red Square with the numerous onion-shaped domes and one of the most well-known icons in Russia. St. Basil's was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in 1552 to commemorate the conquest of Kazan.

Lenin's Mausoleum

At the center of Red Square stands the Mausoleum – a monument tomb where the crystal sarcophagus of Vladimir Lenin sits. The tomb is open every day except Mondays and Fridays from 10:00 to 13:00. There is normally a long line to see Lenin. No photos or video are allowed.

Tretyakov Gallery

The Tretyakov Gallery is the national museum of Russian fine art from the 11th - 20th centuries. It is situated in Moscow and bears name of its founder - Moscow merchant and textile manufacturer Pavel Tretyakov.

Bolshoi Theatre

The foundation of Bolshoi Theater dates back to the 1825 and is considered to be the second largest of Europe after the famous La Scala Theater of Milan. The Bolshoi has been associated from its beginnings with ballet. Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theatre on Saturday, March 4, 1877. Other staples of the Bolshoi repertoire include Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, Adam's Giselle, Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, and Khachaturian's Spartacus. During the Soviet era, international touring companies from the Bolshoi were an important source of cultural prestige, as well as foreign currency earnings, and as a result the "Bolshoi Ballet" became a well-known name in the West. Bolshoi-related troupes continue to tour regularly in the post-Soviet era.