Moscow

Moscow is often described as beautiful. This is precisely how people call it: Moscow the Beautiful. Moscow is one of the more rare cities preserving its beauty in perpetuity, whatever happens.

To those who get to know Moscow closely and with respect, it is quite evident that today Moscow with its history, its architectural masterpieces and its innumerable art treasures has found itself at a boundary between two different eras, in a whirlpool of global currents determining world development.

Moscow is beginning the 21st century as a city radically different from what it was at the turn of the century. You may change the names of streets and squares to what they once were and restore a couple of dozen buildings that were foolishly demolished, but you cannot turn back the clock.

The Red Square is a symbol of Russia. In its architectural ensemble it is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Through the ages it changed its name many times and only in the 17th century it received its present name "Krasnaya" - Red, which in old Russian meant - "Beautiful".

In 1818 a Monument to citizen Minin and Prince Pozharsky , the heroes of the peoples's volunteer corps who were at the head of the Russian people's liberation struggle against foreign invaders in 1612 , was put up in the Red Square . It was built with money raised by public subscription.

On the Vasilyevsky Slope opposite the Spassky Gates the unique Cathedral of the Holly Veil (Pokrovsky) , more widely known as St. Basils Cathedral stands out in all its beauty . It was built in the time of Tsar Ivan 4 ( Ivan the Terrible - 1552) in memory of the victory over the Tatars . Eight cupolas symbolize 8days of decisive battles for the city of Kazan . The Lenin Mausoleum was constructed by the Kremlin wall in 1930. Here the body of Stalin also had laid for several years, but later his remains were reburied by the Kremlin wall. Opposite the Kremlin along the Square rises the lacy building of GUM , former Upper Arcades is situated . On the northern side of the square stands the Historical museum .Nearly one can see the recently reconstructed Kazansky Cathedral , which has become a symbol of religion revival in Russia .The Kazansky Cathedral in the Red Square was built in 1630-1633 with money donated by Prince Dmitry Pozharsky in honor of the miracle - working Kazan icon of the mother of God . The Cathedral was destroyed during the expansion of Red Square in 1930.

Similarly , the Voskesensky (Resurrection) Gates of the former Kitaigorod wall have been destroyed together with the chapel built specially for the Iberian icon of Mother of God - an exact copy of miracle-working Icon of the same name which is kept on Mount Athos in Greece.