Moscow is the capital of Russia, the largest country on earth, and chock-full of stories. However, Moscow was not always the capital. Russia was only formed in 1547. Before that, Russia was divided into many different states. The Grand Duchy of Moscow was the preeminent state in Russian lands, and naturally, its capital was Moscow. However, in 1712, the capital was moved to St.Petersburg, and Moscow fell out of the spotlight for some time. It returned to prominence when St. Petersburg was burned by its own people to defy the vast Napoleonic armies arrayed against it in 1812. In 1918, with the rise of the Bolsheviks, Moscow again became the capital, and has remained so ever since.
Moscow is one of the two most important cities in Russia, the other being St. Petersburg. It is definitely the largest city in Russia, and the second largest in Europe. It has the moniker “The Third Rome”, because the Russian Empire claimed to be the successor to the Roman Empire, due to their shared religion. Why not the second Rome? Because that title is claimed already by Constantinople, today known as Istanbul (my first city showcase!). However, it definitely has its share of attractions and wondrous mysteries, just as any large city.
The Kremlin
Although commonly known as the Kremlin, it fact not the only Kremlin. Kremlin is actually a generic name for a Russian castle. the one in Moscow just happens to be the most famous one. It has historically been the seat of government in Russia, at least as long as Moscow has been the capital. Ironically, although the Kremlin is one of Russia’s most well known structures, it is actually not reflective of Russian and Orthodox architecture. The Kremlin was built and designed by Italian Renaissance architects, thus the building is actually an example of Italian architecture. The Kremlin site is comprised of the palace, towers, walls, an armoury, and several churches. The site has actually been destroyed several times in its history, and the current version stands from the mid 19th century.
Moscow Metro
Moscow is serviced by one of the most extensive public transportation systems on the planet. Many of the subway stations also doubled as bomb shelters during the turbulent times of the Cold War. It is the 4th most heavily used system in the world, behind Tokyo, Seoul, and Beijing. In addition to the main subway lines, there is also a “metro 2” that was to be used for emergency evacuation of key political leaders and other personnel during the Cold War. The metro itself is considered one of the city’s landmarks, due to the variety and intricacy of the architecture in each of its stations. The interior of the stations could be considered Soviet Era architecture at its finest. The stations featured marble walls, and large chandeliers, which is somewhat ironic because such features are usually associated with royalty and wealth, which ran contrary to the ideals of socialism and communism. Regardless, the stations today are considered a must-visit tourist attraction in Moscow.
St Basil’s Cathedral
Located in the heart of Moscow, this cathedral is actually comprised of ten separate church buildings. There are eight churches arranged around a central ninth church. A tenth church was built over the grave of the eponymous St. Basil. St. Basil’s Cathedral was built in 1555 to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan from the Golden Horde, one of the Mongol Empire’s splinter states. The building has a unique shape evoking an image of a bonfire rising into the sky. The church is located in the very center of Moscow, and the city has expanded outward from it since the 15th century.
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