| Travel Destination Guide - Moscow |
Travel Eye on Moscow (Russia)
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Formerly the centre of one of the world's two superpowers, Moscow ( Moskva ) is still reeling from the rapid pace of change that the past decade has wrought. Located in the centre of the East-European plain, with its major part occupying the valley of the Moskva River, it is a brash city with pockets of ostentatious new-found (and often ill-gotten) wealth surrounded by the vast majority struggling to live on their meagre salaries or pensions.
The spiritual, political and economic capital of the world's largest country, Moscow is quite different from the rest of the Russian Federation and the worst ravages of industrial decline have bypassed the city, as it is more focused on the administrative and service sectors. It is a magnet, not only for the entrepreneurs of the new Russia but also for some of the most destitute from the far reaches of the country.
Since the fall of communism Moscow has been injected with a sense of urgency to change the face of the 'Mother City', embracing capitalism and shaking off the years of communist-imposed atheism, with flashy shop fronts housing western franchises, new restaurants and glossy hotels, and the restoration of lavish Orthodox churches. The once dreary streets are now a vibrant commotion of life with markets and eager vendors offering an assortment of goods that were unavailable during the Soviet years.
Moscow boasts a wide range of accommodation to suit almost any travel budget, but outside Russia's two major cities where, admittedly, few foreign tourists venture pickings are often limited.
The accommodation options in Moscow range from five-star luxury palaces, to Western-style business plazas, to Soviet hold-overs with walls that had ears, to hostels and B&B's for the ruble conscious traveler. In the regions, most sizeable cities will provide one or more late-Soviet-era hotels, spruced up to varying degrees, and a few smaller, and usually grottier, alternatives.
Most of Russia has a continental climate - the winters are bone chilling and the summers can be boiling.
The swings are most extreme in southern and central Siberia, but even in Moscow temperatures can range from -30 to 30 Celsius (-20 to 100 Fahrenheit).
Moscow is on seven low hills at the confluence of the Moskva and the Yauza Rivers. The main hills are called Kremlevskiy, Tverskoy, Taganskiy, Lefortovskiy and Vorobevy. Moscow is surrounded by coniferous and deciduous forests and agriculture. Moscow is located at 55* 45' in latitude, 37* 37' longitude. It is due east of Copenhagen and Glasgow, Scotland.
Popular attractions include:
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts - This is to Moscow what the Hermitage is to St. Petersburg -- the major collection of Western art and antiquities.
Andrei Ryblyov Museum (inside the Andronikov Monastery) - The museum is named for the monestary's most celebrated monk- fifteenth century icon painter Andrei Ryblyov. Strangely, there are not any of Rybylov's own icons here, but visiting is worthwhile to see the collection from the Moscow, Rostov and Novgorod schools of painting.
The Armoury - This is the principal Kremlin museum, with a rich collection that evolved from the royal weaponry and armour workshops once located here. Court carriages, thrones, crowns, and extensive ambassadoral gifts to Russian tsars are on display here.
State Historical Museum - The development of Russian civilization, from the early Neanderthal stirrings to the formation of the Kievan Rus, is exhibited here, giving a good idea of what the first and most ferocious tribes to roam the Russian plains actually looked like.
Central Museum of the Revolution - This is the best twentieth century museum in Moscow. Exhibits range from stones thrown at policemen during the 1905 Revolution to a complete and level headed account of the revolution and coups of the early 1990s.
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