Tourist Attractions
On the agenda of every trip to Moscow is a trip to Red Square, the historic core of the Russian capital. All important streets start here. St. Basil’s cathedral was built in the 16th century by Ivan the Terrible. It has nine small colorful domes with chapels. The Kremlin Palace is a large fortress that was once the residence of the Russian tsars. Today it is the official residence of the Russian president. Unfortunately, however, tourists are only allowed to see the outside walls of the palace. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts shows objects from the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece and Rome as well as paintings of famous European artists. Modern architecture includes Lenin’s mausoleum and the GUM shopping mall. Boat trips along the Moskva River offer a completely different view of Moscow. You can see the city’s most interesting features while enjoying a comfortable ride. The famous Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow that holds performances of opera and a world – class ballet. It was founded in the 18th century and has been undergoing restoration for some years. The State History Museum has an enormous collection covering the whole Russian empire from the time of the Stone Age. The building, dating from the late 19th century, is itself an attraction – each room is in the style of a different period or region, some with highly decorated walls echoing old Russian churches. Reopened in 1997, each year sees the addition of a few more Galleries. Ice sculpture has a long history in Russia, but it’s not usually a year-round attraction. Until now. Cool off in the first-ever year-round Ice Sculpture Gallery, which is housed in a refrigerated winter-wonderland tent at the west end of Krasnaya Presnya Park. The changing exhibit is small but spectacular – the frozen masterpieces enhanced by colourful lights and dreamy music. Sculptures have depicted elaborate scenes from Russian fairytales, which changes on a biannual basis. The admission price includes a special down vest and warm fuzzy foot-covers to protect you from the -10°C climate. A pet project of the ubiquitous Zurab Tsereteli, this museum is housed in a classical 18th-century merchant’s home, originally designed by Matvei Kazakov (architect of the Kremlin Senate). It is the perfect light-filled setting for an impressive collection of 20th-century paintings, sculptures and graphics, which includes both Russian and foreign artists. The highlight is the collection of avant-garde art, with works by Chagall, Kandinsky and Malevich. Unique to this museum is its exhibit of ‘nonconformist’ artists from the 1950s and ‘60s – those whose work was not acceptable to the Soviet regime.