Moscow

Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation and is home to over 10 million people. The city of Moscow was founded by Prince Yury Dolgoruky in 1147 on the banks of the Moskva River. It is the political, scientific, historical, architectural and business center of Russia. Today, it is home to one of the largest numbers of billionaires in the world. It was the capital of the Russian Empire for centuries until Peter the Great built a new city Saint Petersburg and moved the capital there in 1712. In the year following the Soviet revolution of 1917, the capital was moved back to Moscow where it stayed even after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

At the heart of the city lies Kremlin, the great Russian fortress. It is a symbol of two mighty imperial cultures: medieval Muscovy and the Soviet Union. During times of war and fear of invasion, Moscow citizens would retreat into the Kremlin walls for protection. Now the city has grown far beyond the walls of Kremlin and the fortress serves as a major tourist attraction. Right next to Kremlin are the famous Red Square, nine-dome St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, the KGB Museum and other symbols of Moscow's rich history.

Moscow is home to beautiful landscape with breathtaking and unique architecture. It is truly a living museum to a millennium of political, religious and cultural history. In an age when church and state were inseparable, cathedrals were built with magnificent dome structures, and served as an ultimate symbol of power and prestige. Moscow's cathedrals, some of which date back to the Middle Ages, are widely different in style, but are all beautiful and majestic. The churches on the territory of Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Church of Christ the Savior are all located within walking distance in the heart of the city. Moscow has numerous museums of natural history, art, science and technology. The cultural life in the city is at a very high level with numerous opera, drama and ballet theaters including the world-famous Bolshoi Theater – the icon for the school of Russian Ballet.