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Nowhere epitomizes Moscow, Russia’s vast and ancient capital, quite like Red Square. An enormous 400 by 150 metres, Red Square lies in the heart of Moscow and on its four sides stand the Kremlin, GUM Department Store, State Historical Museum and St. Basil's Cathedral - centres of government, commerce, history and religion. The square is also home to Lenin’s tomb, a gleaming granite mausoleum to the revered founder of Socialism - a system that, like Lenin himself, is dead but not forgotten.
Red Square was established in the 15th Century, under the rule of Ivan III, and was originally called Trinity Square after the Trinity Cathedral, which used to stand on the site where St. Basil’s stands now. Sometime later the name ‘Krasnaya Ploschad’ became popular. The word ‘krasnaya’ is ambiguous. Originally meaning beautiful in old Russian, it only came to mean red in more modern times. Commonly-held assumptions then that the ‘Red’ in Red Square referred to Communism, blood spilt - or even the colour of the monuments - are in fact misplaced!
Located on the site of the city’s old market place, over the years Red Square has acted as Moscow's equivalent to ancient Rome's Forum - a vast meeting place for the people. It has been a place for celebrating religious festivals, for public gatherings, for listening to Government announcements or Tsars’ addresses, and even watching executions (various political dissidents were publicly butchered here by Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great). The square has also been the scene of more than one display of Russian military might – the most notable of which was in 1941 when lines of Russian tanks rolled through on their way to a front-line confrontation with the Germans. It provided a much needed boost to Russians’ morale in their greatest hour of danger. More recently the square hosted the Russian Live 8 concert, supporting the fight against world poverty.
Apart from soaking in the history and atmosphere, there are a number of things for the tourist to do in and around the square. Not many will want to pass up the opportunity to visit Lenin’s Mausoleum. It’s not often you get a chance to see such an influential historical figure in the flesh - even if cynics claim that the embalmed body is in fact a wax-work replacement.
Another must-see is St. Basil's Cathedral, the ultimate architectural symbol of Russia. Its montage of domes, cupolas, arches, towers, and spires is sure to inspire you every bit as much in real life as in the photos.
If retail therapy is more your thing (or if you just want to escape the cold…) then the GUM Department Store, the largest in Russia, is a great place to do your luxury shopping.
At the northern end of the square you will find the State History Museum with its huge collection of artefacts charting Russia’s past right back to the stone age. Find the famous 1 Red Square restaurant inside.
Last but not least no visit to Moscow would be complete without visiting the seat of the Russia’s government, the Kremlin. You many need to set aside a whole afternoon for this. Read our page on the Kremlin for more info.
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 | | "i was just kidding.
i love russia.
:)" | philipp
United States
May.27.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "red sqaure sucks.
so do russians" | philipp
United States
May.27.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I LIVE THERE COMRADES" | Dimitri Moslov
Russia
Mar.11.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I loved every moment I was at Red Square during Xams and New Year. It is beautiful. Restuarant service needs alot of attention. " | Edwidge Bwalya
South Africa
Jan.21.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "The Red Square is amazing! I found it really beautiful!I really advice people to see it. I have been in lots of places,saw lots of nice things,this is one of them :). I liked it,hope u will too :) "" | Ashish Khanna
India
Jan.02.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I LIVE THERE" | LOL
United States
Nov.11.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "The Red Square is amazing! I found it really beautiful!I really advice people to see it. I have been in lots of places,saw lots of nice things,this is one of them :). I liked it,hope u will too :) " | Victoria
United Kingdom
Oct.22.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I LOVE MOSCOW AND RED SQUARE.
THE GILS TOO." | Kleber Barros
Brazil
Sep.20.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "red is красный. while beautiful is красивый.they're 2 words,but look alike. it's called Red Square for the russian name:"красная площадь" ,it's said they called to say how beautiful the square is in their mind. but i just want to declare, that "red" and "beautiful" are definitely 2 words in Russian. " | Sarah
China
Aug.17.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "i was in moscow this year and i could definitely say that moscow is really beautiful. the Red squair is absolutely astonishing (it's not surprising that Russians call it Krasnaya=beautiful squair),church St Basili's takes away your breath..there are so much things to see and learn there, town is so big and has so big and rich history.every building is beatiful.Tschaikovsky konservatory is also great!=) Mockba RULZ!!! :)*do svidanja!*" | lea
Croatia
Jul.02.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "For the guy asking about why use the color 'red' for 'Red Square', in Russian, the word 'red' and 'beautiful' are the same word, but it's that English speakers have translated the word 'krasnaya' as 'red' instead of 'beautiful.' Russians think of it as the 'Beautiful Square', it's just us English speakers that think of it as 'Red Square.'" | Christy
United States
May.28.2008
rates this page 2/5 |
| | "st basli's is beaustiful place it looks like. but is that line to see lenin's tomb?" | andrew the great
United States
May.05.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "why is it not red when it says it is red square" | woody
United States
Apr.14.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "...wow...this place is BIG!!!!!!" | Kyuubi
United States
Jan.18.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Prepare to experience rich history, culture, art ... all in one location!
Things to see: Changing of the Guard, Flame of the unknown soldier, GUM, The Cathedral and at a short walk Peters Monument.
" | Mohammed Sabzwari
Pakistan
Oct.19.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I really would love to go to The Red Square and actually see for myself, the
place where they burried my great grandfather Vladimir K. Triandafilov. It's still a mystery to me, how he was killed?! My ancestors sure loved Russia, and I bet I would too. So much to learn, so little time!" | Anna Triadaphillides
Canada
Aug.10.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "moscow is amazing. the buildings are gorgeous, the country is great, there are so many things to do in Russia. it's one of the greatest places on earth." | Veda
United States
Jun.28.2007
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Wow, Red Square is amazing. My father is from Moscow so I had to come all the way from Ukraine to visit. Beautiful and crazy to see little old Lenin in his mausoleum. " | Valya
Ukraine
Jun.27.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Red Square is very heart of Russia. Such atmosferic place. Go Red Square in Moscow i must persuade you!" | Juan
Argentina
Feb.08.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
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