Moscow Overview
By Roz Andrews
Moscow, the capital of Russia, takes its name from the Moskva River that flows through the city. A river cruise, available between May and September, is a great way of introducing yourself to the city’s landmarks.
At the heart of Moscow is the Kremlin, encircled by a red brick wall. It contains several interesting buildings, including the gold-domed Cathedral of the Annunciation; Ivan the Great Bell Tower, completed in 1600; and the Patriarch’s Palace housing the Museum of Seventeenth Century Life and Applied Art.
Just outside the Kremlin’s eastern wall, an eclectic mix of buildings stands on Red Square. The embalmed body of the former Russian leader, Vladimir Lenin, is on display in the pyramid-shaped Lenin’s Mausoleum, while the highly decorative, multi-colored exterior of St Basil’s Cathedral extends to its interior of eight domed chapels connected by galleries and narrow stairways.
Also on Red Square is the GUM department store selling a wide variety of Russian and Western goods. Another store worth visiting is Yeliseyev’s Food Store, otherwise known as the Temple of Gluttons, where you can admire the expensive, luxury foods on display in this former mansion.
The metro, or subway, provides an easy, inexpensive way of getting around Moscow and many of the stations are architecturally stunning. Komsomolskaya station, for example, is lit by large crystal chandeliers hanging from its ornate marble ceiling. Go!
