Moscow is the Heart of Russia

Today one of the oldest cities of Russia is a city of world significance and the largest city in the country. For the first time Moscow was mentioned in an ancient Russian manuscript as a settlement and a fortress in 1147. From that date on, the advancement of Moscow from one of the outposts on the border of the Vladimir-Suzdal Princedom to the main city of Russia began. In 15th century, under Ivan III, the Kremlin, “the heart” of Moscow, received its present day appearance owing to Italians architects; the legend “Moscow is the third Rome” emerged. In the shape of a star, large streets of Moscow converge on the Kremlin, which impresses by its churches, palaces, towers and gates.

The layout of Moscow is similar to the structure of an onion: ring streets are located as concentric circles around the oldest city centre with its walls extending for 2.5 km. Out of tens of thousands of wooden buildings which already in the first half of the 19th century determined the appearance of the city only a few have survived. The present day Moscow appeared, in fact, after the second half of the 19th century. The period of the rule of Stalin, who, as no other ruler before, left his imprint on Moscow, had the most serious consequences for the architectural policy of Moscow

. In recent years the appearance of the city has greatly changed. Moscow is getting more and more beautiful. The reconstruction of the enormous Christ’s the Saviour Temple with golden lustrous domes, the skilful remodelling of Manege Square, the recreation of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan, and the Resurrection Gates are eloquent examples of it. Present Moscow is the eastern metropolis of art and culture. “Old Russian” Moscow, with the population of 10 million people, is overflowing with vitality and dynamism. Moscow has become one of the most interesting cities of Eastern Europe.