Moscow

Recommended Tours

• Moscow in a Nutshell • Jewish Heritage Tour • Russian Hospitality •
• Rise and Fall of Idols • Tsars’ Residences • Past and Future: From Icons to Contemporary Art •

Vibrant, challenging, romantic and mesmerizing, just a few attributes out of hundreds on thousands, which refer to the same city, one of the largest megalopolises in the world, with its merits and vices, lots of history permeating caringly preserved centuries-old landmarks, like Kremlin with its two treasuries and the legendary Grand Kremlin Palace where history has been in the making through centuries of overwhelming history. Towering over the city skyline are Stalin’s skyscrapers, legacy of the morose Stalin’s era; hiding within the wrap of the Garden Circle are cozy charming old streets lined with authentic building dating back to XVIII-XIX century.

Moscow is one of the richest collections of museums catering for various tastes and interests from conventional fine-arts to historic panoramas and most sophisticated technological displays and modernist galleries. Few European cities may boast a comparable choice of top to moderate restaurants serving dishes of whatever cuisine a most discerning foodie may think of. Moscow is a centerpiece of Russian power, finances, state of art technology which is felt everywhere.

Places to be

Armory Chamber

The Armory Chamber - the treasury of Russian tsars with unique collections of gold and silver items of the 12 - 19th centuries, Russian arms and armor of the 12 - 16th centuries, the state regalia, thrones, carriages and coronation dresses of the 16 - 19th centuries, as well as ambassadorial gifts of the 16 - 19th centuries.

Places to be

Bolshoi Theater

Bolshoi Theatre is a major cultural and historical brand of Moscow and Russia. It is one of the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies of the world. The company was founded in 1776. The building of the Bolshoi was constructed by architect Osip Bovet in 1824

Places to be

State Tretiakov Art Gallery

State Tretyakov Art Gallery is the national museum of Russia founded in 1856 by Peter Tretyakov. The collection with its 100 thousand exhibits includes 5000 works of ancient Russian art and world famous paintings by Russian and Soviet artists as well as sculptures and examples of graphic art

Places to be

Metro

Metro with its stations decorated with marble, mosaics, stained glass panels and bronze sculpture looks like art museum

Places to be

The New Maiden Convent

The New Maiden Convent is one of the finest examples of the 16 - 19th century architecture, located on the territory of a former convent for ladies of noble birth. The convent is connected with major events in the Russian history, such as the coronation of Boris Godunov, the fight over the Russian throne between Peter the Great and his troublesome sister Princess Sophia and the events of the war of 1812. The is a museum of the grounds.

Places to be

Sergiev Posad

The town of Sergiev Posad is a small industrial and agricultural city about an hour from Moscow. It is most famous for its spectacular fortress monastery, the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius, an important center in the Orthodox world. It is the residence of the Patriarch of All Russia, an active monastery, with the Theological Academy. Its architectural ensemble of the 15 - 19th centuries represents all stages in the development of Russian architecture. The museum boasts a rich collection of icons of the 15 - 17th centuries, rare examples of folk art and Russian national costumes.

Places to be

Izmailovo flea market

A large outdoor handicrafts and souvenir market, all kinds of folk art, paintings, jewelry, toys, antiques, etc.

Places to be

Kolomenskoe Estate

The State Museum-Reserve Kolomenskoe - is located on the territory of the former summer residence of Russian Tzars. The architectural ensemble includes the famous Church of the Ascension built in 1532 in the old Russian “tent” style. An open-air museum includes examples of Russian wooden architecture of the 17 - 18th centuries.

Places to be

St. Basil's Cathedral

The gem of Russian architecture. It was built in the 16th century by order of Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the liberation from the Tatar-Mongol domination. Its composition ( 9 chapels placed on a single foundation ) symbolizes Russia’s victory in the struggle against Tatar-Mongols. Its 10th chapel was added at the end of the 16th century built over the grave of the well-known holy man named Basil, that name was finally given to the cathedral complex.

Places to be

Kremlin

Moscow Kremlin - the former residence of Russian tsars, an architectural ensemble of unique beauty which took shape between the 15th and 20th centuries.
Cathedral Square - the center of the Kremlin with the 15th century Assumption Cathedral, the main church of Russia, the 15th century Annunciation Cathedral, the private church of Russian tsars and the 16th century Cathedral of the Archangel, the burial place of the tsars. On the grounds of the Kremlin there are famous Tsar Cannon of the 16th century and Tsar Bell of the 18th century.