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6 things not to miss on the Red Square in Moscow
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6 things not to miss on the Red Square in Moscow  by Anni Pelmeni

The Red Square is the center of Moscow city. Undoubtfully it is one of the most magnificent and intimidating places in the world. There are 6 places you have to see there if you want to claim that you’ve been on the Red Square and visited grand Moscow. Each of those places is worthy to be displayed individually, but luckily for you there are all in the same location. Here is the count-down and try to remember the Russian names of these places.

1. The Spaskaya Bashnya. It is the highest tower of the Moscow’s Kremlin. It is also the main gateway to the Kremlin. Pay attention to the top of the Spaskaya Bashnya: there you will see the Kremlin clock – the main clockwork of Russia and one of five ruby stars which shine 24/7. Each political regime installs its symbols on the top of the Spaskaya Bashnya as if to show who rules the country. In Russian Empire there used to be double-headed eagles; in Soviet time – the stars.

2. The Lenin Mausoleum. This is the place where the body of Vladimir Lenin is still preserved. First constructed in 1924 it has served ever since as a communist propaganda tool. But it has also became an inalienable part of the Red Square.

3. The military-historical Museum. It is a magnificent red-brick building which has a postal address the Red Square 1. It contains a collection of more then 4 million artifacts of Russian history.

4. The GUM. It is a luxury shopping passage right across the Kremlin. This place used to be the shopping mall of Moscow for many centuries and therefore it is considered the center of Moscow trade. The building of the GUM is a fine example of traditional Russian architecture.

5. The Lobnoe mesto. It is a place in the center of the Red Square where the official announcements were made in medieval Russia. Contrary to popular believes the executions have never took place here.

6. The St. Basil Cathedral. It is an impressive Russian-orthodox cathedral commissioned by the Tsar Ivan IV to commemorate the defeat of Kazan in the middles of 16 century. It is an unofficial emblem of Moscow.

Anni Pelmeni is one of authors of daily updated blog about Moscow city. Moscow city has long and dramatic history. If you are interested in this city and in Russian soul, you will find here a lot of information about grand Moscow and Moscow of modern art, about Russia and Russian history. 

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