Moscow

Moscow is the capital of Russia. If St. Petersburg is Russia's imperial crown, Moscow is its familial heart. It was founded in 1147 by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky as a fortress on the bank of the Moskva River. More than 850 years of its history Moscow has developed into the one of the largest cities of the world with a territory of almost 1000 sq.km and a population of about 10 million. It is the economic, political, scientific and cultural centre of Russia, the seat of the President and the Government.

Moscow is famous for its architectural and cultural monuments of world significance: the Kremlin (15-17th centuries) – the former residence of the Russian tsars is considered to be one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles in the world, the St.Basil's Cathedral (1551-1561) – the masterpiece of Russian architecture is located on the Red Square. Moscow is well-known thanks to its theatres and museums. The Bolshoy Theatre (1776) – one of the leading opera and ballet theatres in the world, the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, the State Tretyakov Art Gallery, the Historical Museum, the ancient Kolomenskoye Museum estate (14th century) – one of the residences of the Russian princes and tsars, the Kuskovo Museum estate (18th century) are among them. The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most beautiful in the world.

The most striking aspect of the city today is not Moscow's much-publicized embrace of Western culture but its self-assured revival of its own traditions. Ancient cathedrals are being restored and opened for religious services, innovative theaters are reclaiming leadership in the arts, and traditional markets are coming back to life.

Moscow is once more assuming its position as the capital and mother city of the ancient and modern state of Russia.