Museums

Cinema Museum, Moscow

Although the Cinema Museum is one of Russia's newer museums, its history dates back almost 100 years. Between 1910 and 1919, a number of progressive filmmakers suggested that cinema ought to be documented for posterity, so at the end of the 1920s a cinema museum was established under the auspices of the State Academy of Artistic Sciences.

The Patriarch’s Palace, Moscow

Since its grand unveiling in 1656, the Patriarchal residence has been at the center of Russian religion and politics. Tsars and ambassadors have been entertained in its legendary banquet hall and sobors (Orthodox councils) have convened in its hallowed chambers to resolve Orthodoxy’s greatest issues. Today, the twelve golden domes of the Palace and the adjoining Church of the twelve apostles are a defining feature of the Kremlin, even though the Patriarch no longer resides there.

Archangel Cathedral, Moscow

Like the Kremlin’s other cathedrals, the Archangel Cathedral became a museum during the Soviet period. It underwent significant restoration work to preserve its precious interior, and was the subject of archaeological and architectural research. Services finally resumed on 28th May 1991.

Ivan the Great Bell Tower Complex, Moscow

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower Complex is the most striking ensemble dominating the Kremlin’s Cathedral Square. The famous Ivan the Great tower is marked by its harmonious architecture, made of several white stone octagonal tiers crowned by a golden dome. At present, the ensemble holds 24 bells cast in the 16th and 17th centuries, including the mighty 65-ton Uspensky bell.

Annunciation Cathedral, Moscow

The State Historical Museum, Moscow

With a collection numbering close to 5 000 000 items and 15 000 000 historic documents, this museum which has been developing for almost one hundred and fifty years has one of the finest and largest historical exhibitions in the world.

Assumption Cathedral, Moscow

The stately Assumption Cathedral was modelled on the Dormition Cathedral in Vladimir, one of the Golden Ring cities of Ancient Russia. Although the Assumption Cathedral is not as ornate as the Kremlin’s other cathedrals, it is a fascinating sight nonetheless.

Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow

The Museum of Fine Arts named after Emperor Alexander III was opened on 31st May 1912, with Ivan Tsvetaev as its director. The initial collection included exhibits from Moscow State University’s Cabinet of Fine Art, antiquities, foreign paintings, sculptures and decorative art, much of it donated from the private collections of Russia’s academics, statesmen, collectors and members of the royal family.

Pushkin

Russians know the town of Pushkin, not by postcards or tour excursions, but rather by the intimate poems of its namesake—Alexander Pushkin. Thanks to Alexander I, who founded an elite school (Russian: lyceum) close to his palace, Pushkin was trained in the art of verse. Along with the workbooks and dormitory of a young Pushkin, poignant traces of the school’s other famous students like Anna Akhmatova, Mihail Glinka and Vasily Zhukovsky can be seen in its grand lecture halls and dingy dormitories.

Pavlovsk

The imperial residence of Pavlovsk is nestled in thick forest in the suburbs of St Petersburg. Its beautiful Neoclassical palace and landscape gardens with lush riverbanks and winding paths are waiting to be explored, and visitors can enjoy festivals, concerts and outdoor sports. Popular among local people and tourists in all seasons, we highly recommend a visit to Pavlovsk!

Tretyakov Gallery

The Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow was founded by art collector and philanthropist Pavel Tretyakov in the mid-1850s. Today, it comprises over 190,000 works of Russian art from the 11th to 21st centuries, created by successive generations of artists who have made a great contribution to their national artistic heritage.

St Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow

St Basil’s Cathedral has become a globally recognised image of Russia. Situated on Red Square beside the Moscow Kremlin,the cathedral is an integral part of Moscow’s city scape and an astounding achievement of ancient Russian architecture, synthesising eleven unique churches into a single ensemble. What is the story behind this monument of Russian spiritual, political, and architectural history, and what can you find there today?

Red Square, Moscow

For centuries Red Square has been the nucleus of life in Moscow. It has evolved from being a simple medieval market, to the setting of glorious Soviet military parades, to the symbolic centre of Russia today. Situated between the Kremlin and historic Kitai-Gorod district and surrounded by the city’s most famous landmarks, it’s impossible to appreciate Moscow without a visit to Red Square.

The Moscow Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin is an imposing fortress marking the very core of Russia’s capital city. It is the largest medieval fortress in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising towers, palaces, squares and churches.For centuries, the Kremlin has been a unique monument of Russian culture and a symbol of Russian statehood. Its formidable wallshave housedthe seat of Russian power from medieval timesto the Romanovs,the Soviets, and the Russian government today. The Moscow Kremlin exudes power and grandeur to all those who visit and is an unmissable landmark for those visiting Russia’s capital city.

The Yusupov Palace, St. Petersburg

Located on the bank of the tranquil River Moyka, the Yusupov Palace was once the residence of the wealthiest family in Russia, the Yusupovs. But its sumptuous interiors hold dark secrets, and the palace is most famous for being the location where mystic monk Grigory Rasputin was murdered.

The Russian Museum, St. Petersburg

The Russian Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Russian art. Its 400,000 exhibits chronicle a millennium of artistic development in Russia, from ancient icons to Realist landscapes to agitprop porcelain. For those interested in Russian art and culture, no trip to St Petersburg would be complete without visiting the Russian Museum.