Russia Twin Cities Tour - Moscow Kremlin and Red Square

Picture: Red Square

Moscow is the capital of Russia. When traveling to Moscow, the most unmissable thing is Red Square, located in the most central area of Moscow.

The Kremlin is a symbol of the Russian state and one of the largest architectural complexes in the world. Orthodox Christianity is the state religion of Russia. Among the sculptures on the streets of Russia, in addition to heroic and model figures, they are also religious clergy. The architectural form of the Orthodox church within the red walls of the Kremlin combines different styles such as Byzantine, Russian, Baroque and Greco-Roman, and enjoys the reputation of "The Eighth Wonder of the World".

Red Square is the heart of Moscow and a witness to Russia’s historical events. The Red Square military parades during the Patriotic War and the Cold War attracted the attention of the world.

Picture: On the left is the Grand Kremlin, Putin’s office, which is not accessible to tourists.

Famous buildings of the Kremlin

Central Church Square Building Complex

The red-stone-paved Church Square is located in the center of the Kremlin and has a unique collection of medieval buildings. There are three golden-domed cathedrals standing on the square, the Grand Kremlin built in the 15th century is the most prominent, and the tallest building is the white golden-domed Ivan the Great Bell Tower. The Assumption Cathedral next to it is majestic and spectacular, with five golden domes that sparkle. The Czar once held a coronation ceremony here, and the great writer Leo Tolstoy was also excommunicated in this church.

Arsenal

Originally used to preserve weapons, it is now a museum displaying cultural relics. It mainly collects precious items from the Tsar and nobles , as well as gifts from foreign embassies.

Alexander Garden

It is located between the Kremlin Wall and Red Square and was built by a moat. This urban street garden is a place for Muscovites to relax and play. There are flowers and green trees, sculptures, song and dance venues, rivers, fountains, World Cup football match promotional walls, etc. in the garden. The garden is connected to underground shopping malls and squares.

Famous buildings in Red Square (by direction)

east side

GUM State Department Store has experienced 120 years of ups and downs and is one of the top ten well-known department stores in the world. GUM is actually more like a palace than a shopping mall. The beige promenade in a European classical style majestically occupies one side that is almost as long as the Red Square. GUM is home to many top brands and is the first choice for Russians and tourists to shop.

south side

The Cathedral of St. Basil is the most famous church in Russia. It is composed of many onion-shaped domes of various shapes and bright colors. The biggest feature of the church is that each side is the front. There is no difference between the front, side and back from any angle. The photos taken have a sense of oil painting. The St. Basil slope next to the church extends all the way to the Moscow River. It is the entrance to the Red Square military parade.

west side

Lenin's Mausoleum is located in the hinterland on the west side of Red Square. The former Soviet leader is buried here because of his outstanding contributions and national influence. His body protected by antiseptic drugs is waiting for visitors to pay their respects in the mausoleum.

north side

The State Historical Museum is a classic building with red walls and white roofs. It used to be a campus of Moscow State University and was later converted into a museum. National Historical Museum has never been closed for any reason. Even during World War II when Moscow was surrounded by German troops, it insisted on opening. It is a portrayal of Russian history.

See below for details.

Famous buildings in the Kremlin:

Central Church Square Building Complex

Within the city walls is the Kremlin complex.

Left: Assumption Church; Center: Patriarch’s Palace and Church of the Twelve Apostles; Right: Bell Tower of Ivan the Great

The Patriarch's Palace is the palace of the Russian Orthodox Patriarch. At that time, Archbishop Nikon built this church specifically for the Russian Church to worship in order to prevent the Russian Orthodox Church from being influenced by foreign churches. Later, the Church of the Twelve Apostles was built next to the Patriarch's Palace. Now it has become a museum displaying Russian handicrafts from the 17th century, including sacrificial robes, sacred utensils, silverware, etc.

The building with five golden domes on the top is the Assumption Cathedral. It is located in the center of the Church Square. It is the oldest Orthodox church in the Kremlin and is the center and holy place of the Russian Orthodox Church. For hundreds of years, emperors have been crowned here and the most important national decrees have been issued. The Assumption Church is regarded as the most important church in Russia.

This is the main entrance, which will only be opened when the Tsar comes.

(The most popular photo pose of the year, and it still has an impression)

The church is full of murals and statues of gods. The murals were repainted later and are a bit rough.

The exhibits in each exhibition hall of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower tell the 9-century history of the Moscow Kremlin. Near the bell tower, there is a "King of Bells" on display that has never been rung. It is too heavy. It is 6 meters high and weighs 200 tons. It was once the largest bell in the world. It was designed by the famous Russian bell tower Forged by craftsmen Matorin and Sons.

This is the Moscow "King of Guns" known as the world's largest cannon. The 40-ton copper-cast ancient cannon was built from 1540 to 1586 and has never been used. The cannon carriage with the lion is beautifully carved, and four cannonballs are stacked in front of the cannon, each weighing 2 tons.

Arsenal

I thought the armory was boring, but after entering, I discovered that it was a place where items from ancient tsars and nobles were displayed. These nobles may be enthusiasts of jewelry. Almost all objects are inlaid with jewelry, such as the tsar's attire, coronation clothes, Orthodox Patriarch's vestments, Russian gold and silverware, Western European silverware, and even ancient weapons, ancient The carriages and harnesses used in celebrations are also inlaid with jewels, which are so luxurious. The exterior decoration of the armory is in the style of the 17th century, while the interior design is Gothic.

Alexander Garden

The Royal Garden, named after Russian Tsar Alexander I, was built in 1821 and is a must-visit attraction for tourists from all over the world.

Monument to the national emblem of the Russian Federation, with the names of Marx and Engels engraved on the monument.

Famous buildings in Red Square:

GUM State Department Store

Located on the east side of Red Square, behind the Kremlin. This is a beige building with a glass roof. The entire mall is brightly lit and looks like a palace. The arcade-like structure of GUM is inspired by the arcades in Europe, similar to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan that I wrote about before. "Tour of Ancient Italian Cities—Milan Chapter"

The shopping mall has three floors, connected by three corridors, with a small fountain in the center. Luxury stores, Russian specialty porcelain, clothing, crafts stores, dining areas, and cinemas are all available. GUM is not only a department store, but also an art gallery. The mall has many literary and artistic decorations and hand-painted crafts. It is also the venue for various cultural activities.

Basil's Assumption Church

Russia's famous Orthodox church was built to commemorate Ivan IV's victory over the Kazan Khanate. Legend has it that the Russian army received help from eight saints during the war. The eight colorful domes on the tower each represent a saint, and the tallest church crown in the middle symbolizes the supremacy of God. The church was named after the monk Vasily who was highly trusted by Ivan the Great at that time.

Visitors can not only enjoy and take photos outside, but also visit the interior. The interior space is smaller, and almost all aisles and empty walls beside the chapel windows are painted with murals from the 16th to 17th centuries.

Lenin's Tomb

Above Lenin's Mausoleum (where Lenin's body is laid) is a reviewing stand, with viewing platforms on both sides. The body of proletarian revolutionist Lenin is placed in a crystal coffin inside the building, covered with the Soviet flag, and his face and hands are illuminated by special lights (photography is prohibited).

There are 12 tombstones between Lenin's tomb and the red wall of the Kremlin. They are the graves of people who made outstanding contributions to the country during the former Soviet Union.

national history museum

The entrance to Red Square on the east side of the museum is the central point of Moscow, and all road mileage is calculated from here. There are a total of 40 exhibition halls in the museum, housing nearly 4.5 million collections. The exhibition halls are full of exquisite murals. Each exhibition hall adopts the decorative styles of different Russian regions in different eras. Due to time reasons, I didn't go in to see it.

Tips: Of course, if you want to know more about the exhibits inside, you can rent an audio guide.