Moscow is a mystery, riddle, giant, luxury, contrasts, lofty buildings, great history and curiosity, because many of us would like to visit Russian capital, others do it constantly, either on business or privately, but for most of us it is still an undiscovered city and another destination on a travel map.
Moscow is a political, religious and cultural centre of the country. These days Moscow is the world capital of great business and finances. Every leading company in the world has to be here. Moscow can intimidate - enormous streets and buildings, beautiful historical monuments, the crowd of people, racial and cultural mix and ubiquitous traffic. Moscow is a city that never sleeps, even after midnight shops and gyms are open. Moscow is not only Kremlin and Red Square. In the city there are so many historical monuments, interesting streets and alleys, unusual buildings from soviet times that even one week isn't enough to see everything, not to mention to become acquainted with the city's atmosphere. Some claim that Moscow is ugly and unfriendly, others are enchanted and want to constantly come back here. However, to answer the question is is it worth coming to Moscow and see it, you can safely give an answer: YES, YES, YES!
Moscow is situated in the European part of Russia, in the region between Oka and Volga, on the River Moscow. The city is inhabited by over 10 million citizens (agglomeration about 14,5 million people), covering around 1100 square kilometres area, and it is thus the biggest city of Europe. Moscow is one big hub: the city has 4 airports, numerous railway stations (in Moscow there is no central railway station) and 3 river ports, which thanks to the system of canals connect Moscow with seas such as: the Baltic, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the White Sea and the Azov Sea. Few of us know that Moscow is also a green city, parks and green areas cover about one third of the city's area. Here occurs continental climate, winters are rather frosty, even to -20°C and summers are hot and dry, even to +35°C. It is best to visit Moscow in April and May or in late August and early September. In summer days are very long, it begins to get dark about 10 p.m., so tourists most overlook the city in the afternoon, when there is no great heat and the streets are not so crowded any more.
Year 1147 is considered to be the date of the establishing of the city. According to legend the prince of Suzdal Yuri Dolgoruky built 9 years later a wooden fortified city, which was later called Kremlin. In 1712 tsar Peter the Great moved the capital of Russia to newly-built St. Petersburg. In 1918 after the great revolution the capital was moved again to Moscow and remains there to this day. Despite so many years after the changing of the capital, both cities - St. Petersburg and Moscow - still compete with each other. .
After arriving at Moscow you have to see many interesting places, not forgetting about pearls the city is famous for in the whole world, which are:
Moscow metro - the most efficient means of transport in the crowded capital, one of the biggest and the fastest city railways in the world and an extraordinary example of the momentum of Soviet architecture. metro started to be built in the 30s of the 20th century. According to the findings of the authorities, metro was not only enable the transport of citizens but also to show splendour, wealth and prestige of the new power. No expense was spared to build the metro and today there is plenty to look at. Nowhere else in the world there is such a metro line as the one you can see in Moscow. Moscow metro is decorated with various kinds of marbles, mosaics, sculptures, chandeliers and gilt;
Red Square - the most famous Russian square in the world, which according to many Russians is considered to be the central point of the capital and the whole country. Red Square borders Kremlin walls, and from the square stem all most important streets and alleys of Moscow. In the square there are many precious historical monuments, such as: Lenin's Mausoleum, Kazan Cathedral, Pokrovsky Cathedral - better known under the name Saint Basil's Cathedral, Minin and Pozharsky Monument, the Place of Execution, the State Historical Monument, the Statue of General Zhukov, Alexandrovsky Orchard and the Main Department Store - GUM (the oldest department store in Moscow built at the end of the 19th century);
Kremlin - it is a geographical and historical centre of Russian capital, it is located in the area of a shape close to triangle on Borowicki Hill by the northern bank of the Moscow River. Kremlin was the place of residence of rulers and tsars of Russia. In the 16th century to Kremlin moved the authorities of Russian Orthodox Church. In 1918 Kremlin became the headquarters of the new Bolshevik authorities. Today Kremlin is also the place of residence of the highest authorities in Russia with the office of the president at the head. In 1990 Kremlin was put on the UNESCO list for world cultural heritage. Its walls reach 19 meters in hight, 6 meters in thickness and about 2,2, km in length. Today Kremlin's appearance comes from the late 16th century. Kremlin and the whole Kremlin Museum can be seen by anybody, after buying the ticket you can visit the whole complex. Attention! Into the Kremlin area mustn't be brought rucksacks or bags, personal belongings have to be left in the luggage storage and there is a total ban on photographing inside of the object.
Arbat - famous, Moscow street for artists, writers, famous for songs of the Russian bard - Bulat Okudzhava, the first Moscow promenade;
The Sparrow Hills - this is the favourite place of Russians, especially newly-weds. There is an observation taras with fountains and flowers, where in good weather you can admire Moscow panorama and an enormous university building;
Seven Sisters of Stalin - in this way are called 7 Moscow skyscrapers, which Stalin ordered to build on the occasion of the 800 anniversary of the city's existence in 1947. Buildings were built in the 50s of the 20th century in the style of socialist classicism. Their aim was to underline the prestige and grandeur of USSR. From 8 planned buildings 7 were built: Lomonosov Moscow State University, Hotel Ukraine, Hotel Leningradskaja, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Construction Communication, residential house on the Kudrinsky Square and residential house by the Kotielnicheska Promenade;
Bolshoi Theatre - it is one of the most beautiful theatres in the world. In the theatre there is the oldest and the best ballet group in the world - Balet Bolshoi. It is the most famous theatre in Russia.
