The Russians are Here! Moscow


"Russian Dance" by Tchaikovsky

The Russians are Here! Moscow

Moscow

Clicking on any picture will take you to a larger version

Gorky Park, nearly seven kilometers of open space in the heart of the city, is on the banks of the Moskva River. Gorky Park

Kremlin

Kremlin came from the word kreml, which means "fortress". The Kremlin in Moscow was built on a hillock strategically located between the Moskva River and a tributary in the middle of the vast Russian plains. Brick battlements wall in a triangular area of under twelve acres. Within the Kremlin, are both secular and religious buildings from all ages -- ours included.

Left to right in the picture are: the Cathedrals of the Annunciation, Archangel, Assumption and the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, standing 320 feet high. It is filled with storey upon storey of bells. The largest is 64 tons and the smallest crafted of delicate silver.

The Kremlin: ". . .a miniature of the largest country in the world." (ref MOSCOW AND LENINGRAD OBSERVED, by Georges Bortoli, translated by Amanda and Edward Thomson, Oxford University Press, 1975)

Red Square and St. Basil's
St. Basil's Cathedral and the Saviour Tower

St. Basil onion domes St. Basil Cathedral reflects in water The Cathedral of Basil the Blessed is at the southern end of Red Square, and opposite the Saviour Tower, a main gate to the Kremlin. The cathedral is composed of eight chapels, each capped by a uniquely decorated onion dome, all built around a central church.

"It is without a doubt the most original monument in the world." --Theophile Gautier

St. Basil early morning silhouette


troika sled race Old Mayday Procession (left) How's this for horse racing? Where the weather's extremely cold much of the year, people learn to accomodate and carry on outdoors anyway!

(right) Many of you know, this used to be a common sight on Mayday in the old Soviet Union.


Bolshoi outside Inside the Bolshoi The Bolshoi Theatre: There have been performances at the Bolshoi (Grand) Theatre since 1825. This is an example of classical Russian architecture. The building has suffered its misfortunes, burning down in 1853. The 1856 reconstruction is the now familiar structure that theatre goers of today are accustomed to. World War II also took its toll; the building was damaged by a German bomb.

Major alterations in 1956-58 resulted in air conditioning, provided by water from an artesian well nearby.

There are 2200 plush red seats in the auditorium of gold and white decoration.


Culture or Cliche?
SAMOVAR!? St. Petersburg Russian Art
Onion Domes Moscow Firebird
Coming soon:
Russian Blue
Coming soon:
Rasputin
Coming soon:
Tchaikovsky

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