Moscow enchants with its rich, varied history as recorded in the plaques commemorating artists, writers, or political figures on almost every building and in gorgeous onion-domed cathedrals that pop up on every other block. Unfortunately, this impressive history is often overshadowed by Moscow's present ills caused by rapid political and economic transformation. Though Moscow is desperately trying to keep pace with the West, the shocking disparity between the extreme poverty and wealth of Moscovites is often unsettling. The "New Russians" are an emerging class of super-wealthy entrepreneurs and mafioso who show off their affluence with ostentatious style. However, the majority of the city's inhabitants are poverty-stricken and uneducated.
The history of the city reveals a tumultuous past. The city was founded by Prince Suzdal in the twelfth century, and was sacked by the Tartars in the thirteenth century. Moscow was united with the greater region in the late fifteenth century when Ivan the Great declared himself ruler of Russia and began building cathedrals around the Kremlin area and the area's population soon exploded. Peter the Great shifted the capital to St. Petersburg in the late seventeenth century until the Bolsheviks finally moved it back to Moscow in 1918. It has remained the seat of governmental activity ever since.
Despite Moscow's post-Communist era growing pains, travelers who visit the city will be richly rewarded. Highlights include the city's world-class museums, the thriving performing-arts scene, and the Byzantine-influenced churches. Many literary museums, located in the houses of revered writers, such as Tolstoy, Dostoeyvsky, Gogol, and Pushkin, provide a fascinating glimpse into the history of Russian letters.
The Kremlin has been home to the powers that be (czars, princes, and presidents) for almost 800 years. Red Square and St Basil's Cathedral are iconic images of the Soviet Empire that are as fascinating as they are beautiful. Another architectural marvel is the turreted Novodevichy Convent, near the Moscow River. Chekhov, Eisenstein, Gogol, Khrushchev, Kropotkin, Mayakovsky, Prokofiev, Stanislavsky and Shostakovich are all buried in the convent's cemetery. The city's joyous, quirky street markets never fail to please tourists as do the once-abandoned churches that have now been fabulously restored to their original beauty. Lenin's tomb is also worth a visit. A stroll through the elegent Arbat neighborhood is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. For more speedy transportation, the city's metro system is impressive for its grand size and efficiency. Though artic temperatures often discourage tourists in the fall, winter, and spring, this city's treasures can be appreciated any time of year.
