Moscow tourist information
Moscow is the capital and the largest city of Russia. For many centuries it has been the center of political, commercial, cultural and scientific life. And now, when it is open to the rest of the world, it is also a major tourist attraction with a steadily growing number of visitors coming from abroad. Moscow has its great buildings, historic sites, broad avenues, famous theatres, busy restaurants, parks and squares, but the real flavour of this city is in its small nooks and crannies, each of them unique.
Moscow is located in the west of the central European part of Russia. The city is situated on the both sides of the Moscow River and on the hills that surround it. The river enters the city in the northwest and flows to the southeast, serving both as an important waterway and as a source of water supply. Because of its geographical location and political importance Moscow became the main communication hub of the country. Nowadays, railroad lines, highways and waterway networks link Moscow with nearly every major city of Russia and Europe. There are also 5 airports: Sheremetievo-1, Sheremetievo-2 (the main Russian international airport), Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Bykovo. In addition to that, the network of tributaries and canals links Moscow to Baltic, White, Black, Caspian and Azov seas, which explains why Moscow can sometimes be called “The Port of five seas”, despite the city being situated in the center of the mainland. The city has a continental climate with an average January temperature of -13°C and an average July temperature of 18°C. Nevertheless, almost every year there are some dreadfully cold days in the winter and some fervent days in the summer. However, one of the best things about weather in Moscow is that it is usually so unpredictable that it will never make you bored.
Moscow being the major economic center with the highest living standards across the country favored to the steady growth of its population (nowadays the population of Moscow is approximately estimated as 9 million people). Since the 1990s many residents have moved to the capital pursuing better standards of living. All these factors lead to the housing shortages and as a consequence to the high demand on any accommodation within Moscow. Ethnically Russians predominate in Moscow but there are also minorities from all over the former Soviet Union. Russian Orthodoxy is the most widespread religion.
Moscow is the leading commercial and manufacturing center of the country. Primary manufactures include chemicals, automobiles and heavy machinery, textiles and clothing, food and beverages, electrical equipment, aircraft, printing and book publishing. The business and administrative center is situated within the old part of the city (within the Garden Ring). Huge exhibition areas and important centers of international business and commerce can also be found here. As for industrial and manufacturing plants, the major part of them was removed to the outskirts of the town. The service sector is growing steadily. This process is based on the entrepreneurs’ initiative, and as a result, those who are ready to pay high prices for good quality can obtain high standards of healthcare, education, housing, and consumer services.
Moscow may be presented as a system of concentric circles. That could be well explained by a historical development of the city: it has incorporated the suburban areas and has grown through the centuries. There are three main circle lines, the Boulevard Ring, the Garden Ring, and MKAD (Moscow outer ring road), which create vital access routes to any part of the city. The Boulevard Ring and the Garden Ring are wide boulevards that were built on the site of the former Moscow’s defense walls. The Kremlin is situated in the center of this circular system. It is the place of the governmental seat. Old buildings and crooked streets are grouped around the central part. The old district that surrounds the Kremlin is called Kitai Gorod. It is the place where commercial and business center is located. Old mansions occupied by headquarters of the major companies are neighboring with new luxurious buildings of banks and prestigious residential buildings. The heart of the tourist area is also located here. The outermost districts of the city are mainly the territory of the residential quarter and the poor working-class neighborhoods. Further to the suburbs lies industrial center.
Maybe the most representative and exact reflection of any city is its streets. It is certainly true about Moscow. There are streets specially prepared for receiving guests and visitors. These are wide and spacious main streets with fashionable shops, comfortable hotels, business and entertainment centers, cafes and restaurants. Among these street are the famous Arbat and Tverskaya Ulitsa. Apart from the main streets there are also fascinating alleys with charming old buildings and quiet cozy courtyards hidden behind the houses. Most of these streets are situated within the central part of the city and are usually called “pereulok”, meaning an “alleyway”. Maybe the most attractive feature of these narrow streets is old mansions, which are scattered there. Some of the 19th century buildings are particularly elegant. Business and administration offices occupy many of these buildings. This fact has some undisputable good sides as these organizations keep the buildings in good repair and do not allow them to become shabby. Although a vast majority of different styles can be found in Moscow, the city exhibits a certain harmonious aspect: tree-lined boulevards crossed by wide squares, vast number of ponds, fountains, monuments, and parks adorn the city, in which there are almost no skyscrapers. Moscow’s special tourist attraction is its picturesque monasteries and numerous churches with gilded domes. Among the most famous and beautiful old constructions is Novodevichy Convent (1524), which was the place of exile for noblewomen, including Peter the Great's sister, Sophia. It’s necessary to mention Donsky and Danilov monasteries that used to serve as fortresses protecting the city from enemies. Another legendary building that has been recently restored – the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, is now one of Moscow’s most lavishly decorated cathedrals.
Moscow plays a very important role in most aspects of cultural life of Russia. Theatres, concert halls, and art galleries - all these facilities make Moscow one of the prominent centers of the creative and performing arts. Among Moscow’s major theatres are the famous Bolshoy Theater, Maly Theater, and Moscow Arts theater (MKhAT). The most well known museums are: The Tretiakov Gallery (exhibitions of famous Russian paintings), the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts (selection of European works), and the Central Artists' House (contemporary art). Such museum-estates as "Kuskovo", “Ostankino”, “Tsaritsyno” are also worth a visit. The Moscow Conservatory, one of the most important Russian music schools, is located in Moscow. The building of the Conservatory also serves as a music hall for major concerts and musical competitions. The Tchaikovsky Concert Hall is famous for excellent acoustics. Tickets may be purchased from box offices at almost every Metro station, and unless you buy them on the evening of the performance, tickets are usually offered at a reasonable price.
Nowadays Moscow can offer a wide range of restaurants, cafés, nightclubs and modern sport complexes. Discos are quite popular, but there are also plenty of bars and clubs with live music ranging from rock and jazz to Russian pop music.
by Russia-IC
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