Top 5 Places to See in Moscow
Moscow is one of those beautiful European cities where one can experience a calm harmony of modernity and ancient cultural heritage.In this article we suggest you our picks of 5 must see places in Moscow.We are sure this will be a remarkable journey.
Bolshoy Theatre
Bolshoy Theatre is home to one of the oldest, and probably the most famous, ballet companies in the world. The first Bolshoy Theatre opened in Moscow in 1780 and presented masquerades, comedies and comic operas. It burnt down in 1805, but its successor was completed in 1825 to a design by Osip Bove and Andrey Mikhaylov.This building too was destroyed by fire, in 1853, but the essentials of its highly praised design were retained in Albert Kavos reconstruction of 1856.
The main features of the Theatre are given below
Beethoven Hall
This ornately decorated room was formerly known as the Imperial Foyer. It is now used for occasional chamber concerts and lectures. The stuccoed decoration on the ceiling includes approximately 3,000 rosettes and the walls are adorned with delicately embroidered panels of crimson silk.
Royal Box
Situated at the centre of the gallery, the royal box, hung with crimson velvet, is one of over 120 boxes. The imperial crown on its pediment was removed in the Soviet era but has now been restored.
Apollo in the Chariot of the Sun
This eye-catching sculpture by Pyotr Klodt, of the original 1825 building was retained by Albert Kavos. It depicts Apollo driving the chariot on which he carried the sun across the sky.
Red Square
Another big attraction of Moscow is the famous Red Square.the Red Square is approximately 500m in length, was also the setting for public announcements and executions during the period of Tsars. At its southern end, in front of St Basils Cathedral, there is a small circular dais,called Lobnoe Mesto, this is the platform from which the tsars and patriarchs would address the people.Today the square is used for a variety of cultural events, concerts, firework displays and other public occasions
St Basils Cathedral
Commissioned by Ivan the Terrible to celebrate the capture of the Mongol stronghold of Kazan in 1552, St Basils Cathedral was completed in 1561. It is reputed to have been designed by the architect Postnik Yakovlev. According to legend, Ivan was so amazed at the beauty of his work that he had him blinded so that he would never be able to design anything as exquisite again. The church was officially called the Cathedral of the Intercession because the final siege of Kazan began on the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin.The cathedrals design, which was inspired by traditional Russian timber architecture, is a riot of gables, tent roofs and twisting onion domes.
Domes
Following a fire in 1583 the original helmet-shaped cupolas were replaced by ribbed or faceted onion domes. It is only since 1670 that the domes have been painted many colours; at one time St Basils was white with golden domes. Running around the outside of the Central Chapel, the gallery connects it to the other eight chapels. It was roofed over at the end of the 17th century and the walls and ceilings were decorated with floral tiles in the late 18th century.
Kuskovo
Kuskovo was the country seat of one of Russia s wealthiest aristocratic families, the Sheremetevs. The present buildings were commissioned by Count Pyotr Sheremetev after his marriage to the heiress Varvara Cherkasskaya in 1743. Among their 200,000 serfs were the architects Fyodor Argunov and Aleksey Mironov who played a major role in Kuskovos construction, probably under the supervision of professional architect Karl Blank. Apart from the elaborate gardens,the main attraction is the two-storey wooden palace, completed in 1777. A ceramics museum, with a renowned collection of porcelain, occupies the Orangery.
Wooden Palace
Surprisingly, this Neo-Classical palace is made entirely of wood, plastered and painted to resemble stone. Carriage ramps sweep up to the main portico, which is emblazoned with the crest of the Sheremetev family
Orangery
With a central hall for dining and dancing, the Orangery was built in 1761 to 62. It is now a ceramics museum, based on the 18th to 19th-century porcelain collection of Aleksey Morozov. Pieces on show include Wedgwood, Meissen and items from various Russian factories.
Lenin Mausoleum
Following Lenins death in 1924, and against his wishes, it was decided to preserve the former Soviet leaders body for posterity. The body was embalmed and placed in a temporary wooden mausoleum in Red Square. Once it became clear that the embalming process had worked, Aleksey Shchusev designed the current mausoleum of a pyramid of cubes cut from red granite and black labradorite. Paying ones respects to Lenins remains was once akin to a religious experience, and queues used to trail all over Red Square.In 1993, however, the goose-stepping guard of honour was replaced by a lone militiaman and now the mausoleum attracts mostly tourists. There are rumours that Lenin will soon be moved elsewhere or buried.
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