Introduction

Red Square and the Kremlin

Visiting Moscow, best in late spring or autumn when the weather is warm and sunny, there is simply no better place to start your sightseeing than its historic heart - the Red Square (Krasnaia Ploshchad'). Much of Russia's turbulent history has played out either in public on the Red Square itself or in private behind the walls of the Kremlin (Kreml'). The Kremlin is a powerful mix of church and state, of European and Russian styling, and of historic and modern Russia. The Red square is an impressive, and famous, city square separating the Kremlin from the city's merchant center. Entering from the north end past the State Historical Museum you will see the instantly recognizable multi-colored onion domes of St. Basil's Cathedral (Sobor Vasiliia Blazhennogo) looming on the far side of the square. To the left of the square is the vast edifice that is GUM department store and down the right are the towering walls of the Kremlin. Beneath sits Lenin's Mausoleum, a step-pyramid structure housing the embalmed remains of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin.

Kitai-Gorod

By and large a thriving commercial area, Kitai-Gorod incorporates the broad area east of Red Square. Kitai is encircled by reconstructed medieval walls and separated from the Kremlin by the Red Square. The area is a unique demonstration of architectural history. It a mix of traditional, art noveau and monumental Soviet-era architecture. Nestled between sights are the remnants of richly decorated churches and mansions. Notable examples include the well-preserved 17th century Tserkov Troitsy v Nikitinkakh (Church of the Trinity in Nikitinov) and the Chambers in Zariadie (Muzei Palaty v Zariade), the former home of Romanov boyars. Gradually, beginning in the 19th century, it transformed into a mercantile center with banks, shops and business. Today it is a cultural mecca filled with vivacity, cafes and nightlife.

Bulvarskoe Kol'tso & Sadovoye Kol'tso

Moscow sits on the banks of the Moskva River and its road system is centered around its heart, the Kremlin. The road system is an intricate circular system of roads, which forms rings around the Kremlin. The first, innermost ring is known as the Bulvarskoe Kol'tso, Boulevard Ring. The Bulvarskoe Kol'tso was built stands on a 16th century former city wall. However, it creates an arc shape. Its arc ends go from Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Khram Khrista Spasitela) to the Yauza River. North of the Bulvarskoe Kol'tso is a hugely varied and rolling area encompassing many of Moscow's main sights and attractions – the Bol'shoi Theatre.

The Sadovoye Kol'tso (Garden Ring), also known as B Route, is the second circular avenue consisting of about 17 streets and 15 squares. The buildings along Sadovoye Kolt'so are eclectic, from an 1800s mansion to recently constructed shopping malls. While under the rule of Stalin, the ring underwent construct no part was rebuilt in Stalinist style. The western side of this arched area was once one of the city's fashionable districts: several famous names resided here, many of whose apartments (Tolstoi House-Museum (Muzei-Usad'ba L.N. Tolstogo), Lermontov House Museum and Pushkin Museum on the Arbat (Muzei-Kvartira A.S. Pushkina na Arbate) among others) are retained as tourist attractions. The area around the Arbat and Novi Arbat used to be a thriving nest of Soviet bohemia.

The North

To the north of the Garden Ring, you'll begin to get a sense of the dizzying size of Moscow – the vast residential districts stretch out in all directions northwards. There are nonetheless sights here that are worth seeing, such as the All-Russian Exhibition Centre (Vse-rosiiskii Vystavochnyi Tsentr - VVTs), the nearby Botanical Gardens (Botanicheskii Sad) and the Ostankino Television Tower (Ostankinskaia Televizionnaia Bashnia). Closer to the center, there are a handful of worthwhile museums such as the Dostoevsky Apartment Museum (Muzei Dostoevskogo) and the Glinka State Central Museum of Musical Culture (Muzei Muzykal'noi Kultury imeni M.I. Glinka).

South of the City Centre

Immediately outh of the Moskva River is the State Tretyakov Gallery (Tret'iakovskaia Galereia), Moscow's foremost gallery of Russian art. The famous Gorky Park is also located here, not far from the controversial Monument to Peter the Great (Monument Petry Velikomu). Further south, lies the Tsaritsyno.

To the East

Taganka square is filled with palaces and churches built by Moscow's former social elite to the east, now surrounded by extensive residential development. It is home to the famous Theatre on Taganka (Teatr na Taganke). Other sights include the Andronikov Monastery (Spaso-Andronikov Monastyr') and the Pomorskaya Old Believers Commune of Moscow (Staroobriadcheskaia Obshchina).

West

The White House (Belyi Dom) on the River Moskva, located in the west and east of the city center, has profound cultural and political significance in Russia's Post-Soviet history. Over the river resides the memorial Victory Park (Park Pobedy), commemorating the victory over fascism and Nazism in the 'Great Patriotic War' - WWII. Further south (and back over the twisting river) you'll find the famous Novodevichy (New Maiden) Convent and Cemetery. The cemetery houses the graves of famous Russian authors Anton Chekhov and Mikhail Bulgakovlikes among other notable Russians. From there across the river, you'll see the imposing presence of Moscow State University's main building.