Picking The Best Of Moscow

Tripoto
18th Mar 2014
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 1/11 by Josh Cahill
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 2/11 by Josh Cahill
Lenin Mausoleum
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 3/11 by Josh Cahill
Monument to the Conquerors of Space
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 4/11 by Josh Cahill
Moscow Metro
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 5/11 by Josh Cahill
Saint Basil's Cathedral
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 6/11 by Josh Cahill
Peter The Great Statue
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 7/11 by Josh Cahill
Ostankivo TV Tower
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 8/11 by Josh Cahill
Moscow State University
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 9/11 by Josh Cahill
The Seven Sisters
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 10/11 by Josh Cahill
Tomb Of the Unknown Soldier
Photo of Picking The Best Of Moscow 11/11 by Josh Cahill
The Kremlin

Moscow is on the top of of a lot of polls- The city with the largest number of billionaires, the most expensive city, the unfriendly city etc. The last one is a bit harsh though. The point is Moscow is a city of extremes. It's exaggerated, flamboyant and nonchalant. Moscow is a free spirit. A major economic, political, cultural and scientific center for the whole of Eurasia, the city is Russia's charming best. Moscow is one of the most exciting capitals in the world and a place full of remarkable sights and unique architectural wonders. The beauty and controversy of the Russian capital is present throughout the whole city. In fact, every building has its very own story. It's like traveling back in time and no other city displays Russia's history better than Moscow. Let me take you on a little tour and show you the wonders of an amazing city.

Moscow has a lot of amazing places to visit. Here are some of the popular and off beat places to see in Moscow. 

Some of the students claim that it is the tallest educational building in the world. I, at least, can say that it is one of the most beautiful examples of architecture I have ever seen. The main tower is 240 meters tall and was the tallest building in Europe until 1990. It is situated near the Moscow Olympic Stadium and is one of the most tremendous sights of the Russian capital. The complex is so big that some people say it would take you 18 years to visit every room!
Photo of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Business School, Russia, Moscow by Josh Cahill
This amazingly unique monument was built to honor the Russian Space program. It was erected in 1964 and is 110 meters tall. It's fully made out of titanium and pretty much symbolizes a rocket on its way to space. Inside the base of the monument you will find the National Space Museum which was just recently re-opened to the public after three years of renovation. It's very close to the VDNK Park, where you can find more interesting sights and spaceships. Simply rent a bike for a dollar (just next to the entrance) and explore the entertaining park and its amazing fountain.
Photo of Monument To The Conquerors Of Space, Moscow by Josh Cahill
I have a thing for tall buildings and the Moscow TV tower is one of the most impressive towers I have seen. The structure is one of the tallest in the world, measuring 540 meters. For the last couple of years the observation platform has been closed due to a fire in 2000 and has just recently opened to the public again. You can get an amazing view from up there. Parts of the floor are made of glass so it feels like you can literally walk in the sky, but let me warn you, it can be quite scary.
Photo of Ostankino Television Tower, Russia, Moscow, ulitsa Akademika Koroleva by Josh Cahill
Should Lenin finally be buried or not? That is a very common question, as Lenin's embalmed body has been on public display for almost 90 years. During the Second World War his body was brought to Siberia when it appeared that Moscow might be in danger of invasion by Nazi Germany. For a while he was even joined by Josef Stalin. The structure is built with elements of several great mausoleums like Cyrus the Great and the Step Pyramid. The mausoleum opens its gates every day from 10:00 to 13:00 excluding holidays. Try to pay Lenin a visit before he disappears for good.
Photo of Lenin's Mausoleum, Russia, Moscow, Krasnaya ploshad by Josh Cahill
Also known as the Stalin Sisters, The Seven Sisters are a bunch of skyscrapers in the center of Moscow built in the very unique Stalinist style. Some of them used to be the tallest buildings in the world for a couple of decades. Today they are used as hotels, apartments, universities and one of them is the home of the foreign ministry. You will notice them straight away and I'm personally a big fan - an interesting mix of Russian baroque and Gothic architectural styles.
Photo of The Seven Sisters, Moscow by Josh Cahill
Stalin used to call them the 'palaces of the people', and the Moscow Metro station truly does seem like a palace. Every ride on the Moscow Metro is a majestic journey. You will be amazed by the fancy chandeliers, the beautiful wall adornments and the marble abutments. Every station tells you a different story about Russia's history. Another exciting highlight is the escalators that take you up or down the stations. Sometimes you aren't even able to see the end, especially at the Park Podeby Station where you can find the longest escalator in the world, measuring 126 meters. Nine million people use the Moscow Metro every day. Must visit stations: Mayakovskaya/Маяковская, Prospekt Mira/Проспект Мира, Arbatskaya/Арба́тская Kievskaya/Киевская, Komsomolskaya/Комсомо́льская, Novoslobodskaya/Новослободская, Belorusskaya/Белору́сская
Photo of Moscow Metro, Russia, Moscow by Josh Cahill
The first thing you'll probably notice after entering the Red Square is the beautifully colored onion domes of the Basil Cathedral, and a magical view of one of the most famous landmarks in Russia. But it's interesting to know that the bright colors were only added 200 years later to its exterior walls. Another funny note is that the former dictator Josef Stalin wasn't really happy about how the location of the church blocked the entrance to the Red Square for his mass demonstrations, so he considered demolishing the cathedral. Luckily, someone made him change his mind.
Photo of St. Basil's Cathedral, Russia, Moscow, Krasnaya ploshad by Josh Cahill
The Saviour Church has a very special story to tell. After Napoleon retreated from Moscow the idea was introduced to honor Christ with a church for saving Russia. The church took more than 40 years to be built, only to be blown up in 1931 by the order of Josef Stalin. The demolition was supposed to make way for a 400 meter tall palace with a massive Lenin Statue on the top. While the project never went beyond its fundamental plans and was later withdrawn, the Russian people decided to rebuild the church in 1995. The church is also known for Pussy Riot's infamous protest against Vladimir Putin in 2012.
Photo of Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Russia, Moscow, ulitsa Volkhonka by Josh Cahill
There is no way around the Red Square and the bordering Kremlin. The center of Russia's capital is a magnet for tourists and one of the most iconic squares in the world. As many people assume, the name Red Square does not originate from the pigment of the surrounding bricks nor from the link between the color red and communism. The Russian word "Krasnaya" (The name of the square is Krasnaya Ploshchad) can be translated to either "beautiful" or "red".
Photo of Russia, Moscow, The Kremlin by Josh Cahill