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Empire Treasures in Moscow

The treasures of the Russian Empire are commonly known since it was one of the greatest empires existing. In spite of all historical collapses, the Russian State managed to preserve its cultural and spiritual heritage. You will be lucky enough to see with your own eyes the riches of the Russian Tsars and Emperors exhibited in the most famous Moscow museums.

The Armory Chamber

This is the oldest museum in Russia, set up in 1511 by the Grand Prince Vassily III. At that time it was a court workshop for the production and repair of armaments and a storehouse of ceremonial armors. In 1806, it was designated as a private court museum, but the decision did not take effect until 1812, when the treasures were evacuated to protect them from Napoleons approaching troops. The present building dates back to the 1850s and contains the unique collection of old arms, decorated weapons and suits of armor, coronations paraphernalia, church utensils, jewelry, rare textiles, costumes and other valuables. There are more than 4,000 items presented in nine halls on two floors. Objects of applied art from Russia, Western Europe and Asia, dating from the 4th to the early 20th centuries, including a very famous Faberge Collection, are displayed in the building. Many artifacts in the Armory collection are ambassadorial gifts to Russian Tars from England, Holland, Sweden and France, presented at the special ceremonies that were held in the Palace of Facets in the Kremlin. In the Armory Chamber you can also listen to classical music concerts with cocktails (max. 150 persons)

The Diamond Fund

This is a gem collection housed in the building of the Armory. On display are the most precious items of the treasury: unique diamonds, antique jewelry, one of the worlds biggest gold nuggets - the so called "Triangle," weighing 3.6 kg - as well as world-famous emeralds and sapphires and the crown of Catherine the Great, adorned with more than 5,000 diamonds. You can also admire the Orlov diamond, almost 190 carats, named after Catherine the Greats lover, Prince Grigory Orlov.

The Grand Kremlin Palace

Built in the first half of the 19th century in neo-Byzantine style by Ton, the favorite architect of Nicholas I, the Palace was the Tsars Residence in Moscow. Its interiors are lavishly furnished and there are four great halls named after the four senior Russian military orders. In the 1930s Stalin had two of them remodeled to provide an assembly hall for the 17th Communist Party Congress. These two halls - Alexanders Hall and Throne Hall - were recently fully restored according to the original design of the 19th century. Two formal halls remain: the impressive St. George Hall, which serves as a lobby for delegates, and the St. Vladimir Hall, where treaties are signed. In the communist time the Palace served for the Soviet Supreme Sessions - the countrys highest legislative body. Nowadays official eminent delegations receptions usually take place there. Visits to Grand Kremlin Palace and Palace of Facets are possible by special request in groups of max. 20 persons, max. 2-3 groups a day.

Patriarchs Palace

It stands on the north side of Cathedral Square in the Kremlin and was constructed in 1656 for the ambitious Patriarch Nikon. Today it houses the Museum of Applied Art and Lifestyle of the 17th century. The main part of the Palace, the Cross Chamber (280 sq. m.), with the typically thick medieval walls (2.35 m.) and vaulted ceiling, can be used for cocktails/buffets and private concerts of Russian spiritual music for max. 120 persons.

The Romanovs Chambers in Zaryadie

The legend says the Romanovs Chambers in Zaryadie, close to Red Square, were the birthplace of the first Romanov - Michail Fiodorovitch. In 1859 by the order of Alexander II one of the first memorial museums in Russia was established there. At the moment this museum displays furniture, clothing and utensils, and shows the daily life of boyars (medieval Russian noblemen in the service of the Tsar), because this was the residence of the first Romanov Tsars parents, who were boyars.

Moscow Arts and Crafts

Moscow has always been one of the biggest centers of artisanship in Russia and is still keeping up its old traditions. Popular Arts and Crafts centers like Palekh, Mstiora, Fedoskino,Khokhloma and Zhostovo are known all over the world. We will never stop admiring the clever work by ancient masters: What they did are real artistic examples of work, inspired by talent, elegance and fine style.

Zhostovo

Located in a small village about 20 km. north of Moscow, Zhostovo has a reputation as the best manufacturer of hand-painted metal serving trays in Russia. Local artisans began producing their trays in 1840 and now numerous individuals paint the pre-cut trays in their private factories following the old technology. When in Zhostovo, you will get a chance to visit the factory and the museum and to buy good quality trays with traditional Russian scenes and flowers. Guided tour duration time - 1h.

Fedoskino

Located in a small town about 25 km. north of Moscow, Fedoskino is believed to be the oldest still existing school of lacquer painting in Russia. By the 18th century, Fedoskino painters excelled in icon painting but turned to these lacquered boxes because after 1917 the religious tone of their work was not tolerated. The process of producing boxes - called "shkatulka" - is the same today as it was 200 years ago: Pressed paper is turned around a wooden shape of the box, then dipped in linseed oil and dried for 24 hours. After it has been polished, the box goes to the painter, who colors the large surfaces, then covers them with oil lacquer and lets the box dry. From the time a box is painted for the first time, it takes about 10 days to finish the job. The boxes are usually black on the outside and red inside. Fedoskinos miniatures are painted more realistically, based on old masters and on the Renaissance School, than those of other villages producing lacquered boxes. Visiting Fedoskino you will get acquainted with the exposition museum and will see with your own eyes the old techniques.

Decorative and Folk Arts Museum

This museum is housed in what was originally a 16th-century estate. More than 40,000 objects of wood, metal, glass and clay from the 14th century to the present are on display, all folk and applied arts of the peoples of Russia. They include crafts made of wood and metal, as well as lacquered miniatures.

Russian Toys Museum in Serguiev Possad

Located in the Moscow countryside, about 70 km. from the capital, near the world-renowned Monastery of the Holy Trinity, founded in the mid-14th century by Serguis of Radonej. The Museum exhibition is dedicated to the Folk Toys produced in different regions of Russia. You will have a chance to get acquainted with the famous matryoshkas, clay miniatures from Viatka, like tin whistles, female or animal statuettes and wooden dolls from Gorodetz.

The Tretyakov Gallery

A major museum housing a collection of Russian art that traces the development of Russian culture from the 11th through the 20th centuries: Russian icons and Byzantine mosaics, canvases by portraitists of the 18th-19th centuries, landscapes and historical canvases of the mid 19th-early 20th centuries, sculptures, drawings, painting and graphics from the early 20th century, displayed in 60 rooms covering about 9,000 square m. and enhanced with skylight. After being renovated in 1995, Tretyakov Gallery is the most exhilarating museum in Moscow. There are about 47,000 Russian works by world-renowned Russian masters like Nikitin, Rokotov, Kiprensky, Brullov, Ivanov, Vrubel, Levitan and others.

Military look on Moscow

Russians have always taken pride in their Army from the middle ages till the present. Artillery, armored vehicles, MiGs and a Kalashnikov are the symbols of Russian military power. We would recommend you take the opportunity to visit Moscow military museums, listening to the songs performed by the Red Army Choir or training as an expert shot.

Armed Forces Museum

Located north of the Kremlin, this Museum is devoted to the history of the Russian Army since the time of Peter the Great. It has a collection of 600,000 items, including weapons, military equipment, uniforms, toy solders, photos and a unique collection of combat and captured banners and decorations. On the open-air ground you can see combat machinery, strategic missiles, tanks, etc.

Stalins Bunker

Part of a huge underground complex located in Izmailovo, west of the Kremlin, a few kilometers from the center of the city. That bunker was constructed shortly before the Second World War for military purposes. It is well known that during the war Hitler ordered that public areas and stadiums not be destroyed, so on top of the underground stadium a complex was constructed to protect the place from bombing. According to some secret sources there was a whole tank division located in the complex during the war. The complex was connected with the Kremlin by a 17-km. long direct underground speed road for officials to be able to escape in case the Nazis conquered Moscow. Recently a part of the complex has been restored according to historical documents. Nowadays the complex is a fully equipped conference hall for 130 people and a museum partly dedicated to Stalin himself, including his study with the original furniture and personal belongings.

The Red Army Choir

"Kalinka," "Moscow Evenings," "Black Eyes" or even Beatles songs performed by the biggest Russian Songs Ensemble - The Red Army Choir - will impress you with their massive force, vigor and talent.

Vestiges of the Communist Time

Statues of Lenin, Stalin and Marx were on practically every corner of every town in the former Soviet Union. Many signs of the communist time are still scattered all over Moscow. Revolutionary museums should be considered with some skepticism, particularly if you are pressed for time, but many Moscovites consider them part of their history. It is kind of ironic that the Karl Marx statue is in front of what today is the pillar of capitalist luxury hotels - the Metropol. Since 1976 Frederich Engels has stood just in front of the rebuilt Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

Visiting Moscow - Former Communist Capital

Red Square is the epicenter of Russia. It has always had a peculiar fascination. Red Square witnessed many popular spectacles all through Russian history, like trading markets, workers festivals, revolution events and military parades, when communist leaders stood atop the Lenin Mausoleum. In the Mausoleum Lenins body lies on a pedestal surrounded by an artificial mystical darkness. In 1993 more than 100,000 people packed Red Square when cellist and conductor Matislav Rostropovitch led the National Symphony Orchesrtra in an outdoor performance of Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky, complete with cannon fire and the Kremlin bells ringing. Nowadays Red Square can also offer you, upon special request, a meeting with lookalike communist leaders: Stalin, Lenin and Brezhnev. Another prestigious Moscow necropolis is the Novodevitchi Cemetery. Located next to Novodevitchi (New-Maiden) Convent, the Cemetery contains the remains of many Russian writers, artists and politicians, among them composers Alexandre Scriabin, Sergey Prokofiev and Dmitry Shostakovitch, poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, Stalins second wife and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev. In front of Gorki Park since the time of the last putsch has been situated an open-air museum, also called Park of the Arts. More than 700 exhibits of contemporary Russian and famed Soviet sculptures (Vuchetich, Mukhina, etc.) are shown there. This museum is home to many monuments removed in the 90s, such as the one to Dzerzhinsky from Lubyanka Square. Other symbols of the communist time are the so-called "Stalins Wedding Cakes." In 1947 Stalin decided to decorate Moscow with eight skyrises positioned around the megalomaniacal Palace of the Soviet. Stalin ordered them built to showcase the Soviet Unions architectural abilities. Fortunately for posterity, the Palace was never realized, but the other seven buildings did materialize. They are sometimes called the Seven Sisters. We would like to introduce you to a new way of visiting Moscow, former communist capital, which will help you to understand better how events are developing now through the past.

The KGB Museum

Centrally located northeast of the Kremlin near Lubyanka Square and former KGB headquarters,this museum was originally opened for KGB officers in 1984, in 1991 for Russians and two years later for foreigners. The museum contains items revealing strictly confidential (for the Soviet time) information about the past and present of the Soviet Secret Service and telling the true stories of the legendary spies. It presents the unique opportunity to find yourself in the Headquarters of the "Evil Empire" and to be shown around by a KGB officer in "flesh and blood."

The Tretyakov Gallery Affiliate

Located southeast of the Kremlin on the Garden Ring Street and next to the Moskva River, the Gallery exhibits Soviet and post-Soviet art. The exposition is called "Art of the 20th Century" and contains Russian art from the avant-garde of the 1910s-20s up to the "new wave" of 1960s-80s.

Visiting Moscow Metro

The metro in Moscow was created as an architectural complex of monumental structures. The stations built in the 1930s-60s are real underground palaces: statues, frescoes, mosaics, stained-glass windows. Every station has an artistic appearance of its own: Belorusskaya station is decorated with beige-colored marble from Siberia, Kievskaya glorifies the achievements of the Ukraine with mosaic scenes in a typically Stalinist fashion, Komsomolskaya is believed to be the most handsome metro station in Moscow. Its design won the Grand Prix in Brussels, as well as the first prize at the New York International Exposition, both in 1958. Mayakovskaya, simple, spacious and elegant, is bejeweled with the same Ural stone used by Faberge. On November 6, 1941, Stalin spoke to the Supreme Soviet inside this station, while the Germans advanced within a few miles of Moscow. We hope you will enjoy visiting the metros Soviet-style underground museum.

The Museum of the Revolution

Located in front of Pushkin Square, its red building dates from 1780, when it was constructed for Count Razumovsky. In 1831 it became the English Club. The two funny-looking lions at the entrance were immortalized by Alexander Pushkin in his poem "Yevgeny Onegin." The last great event at the Club was a costume ball for Nicholas II in 1913 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Romanov rule. It was turned into the Museum of the Revolution in 1923. The museum has a million exhibits related to the struggle in the 1917 Revolution, and articles and portraits of Lenin and Stalin. In the courtyard you will pass a burned-out trolleybus that was used as a barricade at the Russian White House in 1991.

Moscow as the Center of Orthodox Religion

Your visit to Moscow is not complete without observing some principal monuments of Russian Orthodox Religion. The Russian Orthodox Church is the largest single branch of the Eastern Orthodox religion, which numbers more than 125 million followers. According to the historical record, the residence of the Russian Church moved from Kiev to Moscow in 1320, where it is still located. Its highest official today is the Holy Patriarch of Russia, Alexiy II at present; a council called the Holy Synod helps in the administration department. In Moscow, churches and monasteries have played a dominant role: their five-cupola, tent-shaped or domed silhouettes, graceful bell-towers and festive or austere decor create a picturesque look.

The Kremlin and its Cathedrals

The Kremlin is the heart of Russia and synonymous with its history, government and power. The Kremlin is Buckingham Palace, the White House, the Elysee Palace, at once the Vatican, Versailles and the Parthenon. It is a unique complex of architectural monuments surrounded by ancient red brick walls crowned with 21 towers. The center of the Kremlin is the Cathedrals Square with the Cathedral of Assumption, where royal weddings, coronation ceremonies and receptions for foreign ambassadors used to take place. The Cathedral of Annunciation and the Cathedral of Archangel Mikhail are located next to it. Some other examples of Russian architecture are: Palace of Facets, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, the bell Tower of Ivan the Great and the Spasskaya (Savoir) Tower, the Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon. A Russian saying goes, "The Kremlin is not a city, but a whole world," and you will get a chance to feel yourself in the middle of that "whole world."

Serguiev Possad - The Holy Trinity Monastery

This monastery is one of Russians most important spiritual and historical landmarks, founded in the 14th century by Serguies of Radonzh. Tens of thousands made a pilgrimage here every year in spite of the Revolution and they continue to do so. Although the headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Church has been moved to Moscows St. Daniel Monastery, the Holy Trinity still represents the essence of Russian Orthodoxy and houses its seminary. Among the greatest treasures is the stone Trinity Cathedral, built in 1423. Its interior is crowned by icons painted by Old Masters - Andrei Rublev and Daniel Chorny. When Rublev was a monk in that monastery he painted for the church his famous Trinity icon, which is on display now in the Tretyakov Gallery. A copy replaced the church original in the Soviet time. In the monastery you will be given a special tour of the grounds conducted by a priest or monk. It is also possible to visit the Theological Academy Icons Museum guided by a seminarist. By special request we can organize a lunch at the Refectory.

St. Daniel Monastery

Located in the southern part of Moscow, on the right bank of the Moskva River, the monastery is believed to be the first in Moscow. Moscow Prince Daniel, the son of Alexander Nevsky, founded it in 1272. Its destiny is quite amazing: being the oldest one in Moscow, it was the last one of Stalins time, and the first that was returned to the Church in the 1980s. Nowadays the monastery is the Residence of the Patriarch and his administration.´

The New Jerusalem Monastery

Located in the town of Istra, about 40 km. northwest of Moscow on the bank of the Istra river, the monastery was erected in the 17th century as a replica of Jerusalem by order of the Patriarch Nikon, who was buried in the Resurrection Cathedral. During the Second World War, retreating Germans bombed it heavily. Restoration has been going on since 1958 and recently ended. Armor, Russian paintings and porcelain, books and music scores are on exhibit at the Baroque Nativity Church. The Museum of Wooden Architecture is outside the monasterys north wall in the park along the river. After many years as a museum, the monastery is a practicing Orthodox monastery again.

The Andronicus Monastery

Located east of the Kremlin, the monastery was founded in 1360 as an outpost on the approaches to Moscow for defense against the Tatar-Mongols. The founder of the monastery - Metropolitan Alexy - made a promise after getting lost in a storm in the Black Sea to build a new monastery upon his return from Constantinople. It was named after its first monk, Andronik, a disciple of St. Serguis of Radonezh. St. Serguis stayed here during his travels to Moscow. From the 14h to the 17th centuries the monastery was the most important book-copying center. The greatest Russian icon-painter, Andrei Rublev, spent his last years and was buried there; he was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. The famous movie by Russian producer Tarkovsky, "Andrei Rublev," relates the life of the artist when he was a monk in the monastery.

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Located near the Kremlin and adjacent to the Moskva river, the Cathedral, commissioned by Tsar Alexander I, was erected in 1883 to honor those killed in the Napoleonic war of 1812, following 46 years of construction by nearly 100,000 workers. Fifty years later, the Communists wanted to build the Palace of the Soviet here, which was to be the tallest building in the world at that time, crowned with a gargantuan 100-meter-tall statue of Lenin. The Saviors Cathedral was one of the first buildings that fell victim to Stalins reconstruction. The Palace of the Soviet has never been built, but the marble of the Cathedral was used to decorate several Moscow metro stations and its jasper columns now grace Moscow University. In its place, Basin Moskva, an open-air swimming pool, was built on orders from Nikita Khrushchev in 1960. At present a replica of Tons original cathedral has been rebuilt in time for the 850th anniversary of Moscow. Some 40,000 businesses contributed toward the new Cathedral completion; some banks donated 100 kg of gold to return the old symbol to the people. Nowadays, the Cathedral looks like St. Sophia in Istanbul and also serves as a platform to admire the city from a birds-eye view.

Moscow and its Suburban Estates

"Moscow is a city of Monasteries and St. Petersburg - the one of Palaces," some people used to say. It seems to us that Moscow has not really lost its reputation as the city with many historical suburban estates. If St. Petersburg gives an impressive history of the Russian Empire, Moscow offers you a chance to be delighted with its Palaces beauty, the riches of its aristocrats, the variety of their interests and the wide scope of their constructions. We would like to introduce you to a new look on Moscow as a center of Russian Suburban Estates.

Kolomenskoye

The history of this estate goes back to the 14th century, when Kolomenskoye was mentioned for the first time. In the 16th century the estate became the country residence of Russian Princes and Tsars. In 1532 the Grand Prince Vassily III ordered the Church of the Ascension built to commemorate the birth of his son, Ivan the Terrible. More than 60 meters tall, it was one of the tallest Russian buildings in the 16th century and one of the first stone churches in the tent-roof style. In the 17th century the second Tsar of the Romanov dynasty, Alexey Michailovish, ordered the construction of a luminous wooden Palace: Having 250 rooms and 3,000 windows, it was built in a year. The murals were painted by Simon Ushakov. That Palace was so beautiful that people used to call it "the eighth miracle of the earth." But during the Catherine the Great reign, the Palace was demolished because of its old age. In 1930 some wooden structures from Siberia were brought to the Kolomenskoye park, including the cottage of Peter the Great. The Palace Gate museum contains old armaments, period furnishing and decorations, paintings, metal works and ceramics. Kolomenskoye estate is a perfect venue for staging Russian winter festivals with troika-rides or any kind of folklore events all year round.

Kuskovo

The Palace and Park complex was created in 1775, later to become the Moscow Versailles. It used to be the countryside residence of Count Sheremetiev, built and decorated especially for receptions and festivities. In the 1760s and 80s, the estate owners entertained as many as 30,000 guests in a single day and it was the Moscow aristocracys favorite playground for more than 100 years. The festivities would include sumptuous balls, fireworks, folk dances, theater performances and rowing on the lake. Since 1932 the Museum of Ceramics has displayed Italian, French, German and Iranian glassware and porcelain. Part of this trove belonged to the family of Ivan Morozov, a well-known Moscow merchant. Kuskovos gardens were immaculate; 300 gardeners maintained them. Fifty-four statues are displayed throughout the estate, most of them from 18th-century Italian masters, including one of Minerva to celebrate the visit of Catherine the Great in 1775. The Ballroom of the Palace is the perfect venue for dinners, cocktails receptions or concerts (summer only), the Orangery and the Italian Pavilion perfect for intimate dinners. The Park is an excellent location for a garden party.

Ostankino (summer only)

The village of Ostankino has been known for centuries. The estate once belonged to Ivan the Terrible; from the 17th century it was the property of Prince Cherkassky, whose last daughter married a Sheremetyev and brought the land into his family. The Sheremetyevs holdings at the height of their influence included more than 2 million acres spread over 17 provinces, and more than 200,000 serfs. Nikolay Sheremetyev, one of the richest and most educated aristocrats of his time, decided to begin the construction of a theater in Ostankino in 1790 with the help of peasant architects. But he fell in love with a serf girl, Paraskovia Zhemchugova, a gifted and popular actress in his theater. Count Sheremetyev married her against all customs of the times, infuriating Moscow high society. Misfortune seemed to await them: Paraskovia died after the birth of her son Dimitry. The Picture Gallery, Egyptian and Italian Pavilions and the famous Sheremetyevs Theater are the most attractive monuments. We can also offer upon your special request a gala dinner with a classical music concert in Ostankino Estate.

Abramtsevo

Located about 50 km. Northeast of Moscow (on the road to Serguiev Possad), Abramtsevo Estate was a thriving artists colony. It belonged to Serguie Aksakov, writer and government censor. Writers Nikolay Gogol and Ivan Turgenev spent time at Abramtsevo and both read their prose on the estate. Gogol, who lived upstairs in a garret of the main building, here wrote the second volume of "Dead Souls," which he destroyed later at his Moscow home. In 1870 the estate was bought by Savva Mamontov, the railway baron and art connoisseur, who transformed it into an artists colony of Russian painters, writers and playwrights. Painters, like Nesterov, Polenov, Repin, Vasnetsov and Vrubel lived here permanently (their works are on display in Tretyakov Gallery). Classical composers, like Rachmaninov and Rimsky-Korsakov, often came to the estate. Operatic basso singer Fyodor Shalyapin made his debut here. About 90 percent of Russian artistic life was said to centered on this estate at that time. We offer you an opportunity to get acquainted with the "cream" of Russian society life, traditions and heritage.

Arkhangelskoye

This estate, located on the banks of the Moskva river, is about 20 km. west of Moscow. In the 17th century the land belonged to Prince Cherkassky and was bought in 1731 by Golitsyn. In 1810 Arkhangelskoye was purchased by the art patron and collector Prince Nikolay Yussupov, who was also one of the wealthiest property owners in Russia. In 1812 Yussupovs art collection of more than 500 paintings by European masters was brought to Arkhangelskoye, together with a collection of sculptures, antique furniture, tapestries and china. That collection can be seen today. After the Napoleonic invasion, in 1825, Yussupov turned the Palace into the museum that rivaled many European state art collections. The poet Pushkin visited Yussupovs library several times and was impressed by its more than 16,000 volumes. The wooden serf theater, built in 1818 could seat 400 and it was one of the best theaters at that time. The last owner of the estate was the world and scandalously known Feliks Yussupov, the one who shot and drowned Rasputin. We can also offer you a unique opportunity to visit the rare Filiks Yussupov art collection (upon request).

Moscow Theatrical and Musical

Moscow is a cultural mecca of Europe. The most world-renowned and talented opera singers, ballet dancers and classical actors have given Moscow theatrical prestige. Moscow is a city of Tchaikovsky, Shalyapin, Stanislavsky and Chekhov. Moscows spirit and beauties inspired the greatest artists; enjoy and share their feelings visiting Theatrical and Musical Moscow.

Visiting the Bolshoi Theater, Museum and Ballet School

The Bolshoi is Moscows oldest opera and ballet house and his enjoyed more than 220 seasons. The theaters interior consists of five tiers of gilded boxes and about 2,200 seats. "Bolshoi," which translates into "Grand," employs several hundred singers, dancers and musicians, as well as another 1,900 behind-the-stage workers responsible for everything from costumes to special effects and cleaning. It nurtures new ballet dancers through its own ballet school. You can have a unique opportunity to see the training of the future Bolshoi Stars. The operas repertoire over the years includes Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Rachmaninov, Puccini and Verdi. The Bolshoi also gained a reputation for its famous ballet performances: "Giselle," "Swan Lake," "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker" are still played in the theater. We are glad to offer you a chance to get acquainted with Bolshois behind-the-scenes life and visit its museum, which was founded in 1920 and contains more than 11,000 sketches of decorations and costumes created for Bolshoi performances. There are also many items including theatrical costumes by such a legend as Shalyapin.

The Bakhrushin Theatrical Museum

Located in Zamoskvorechye, the museum is named after the theater lover Alexey Bakhrushin. This museum is one of the best of its kind in Russia and will acquaint you with the history of Russian and Soviet drama, opera and ballet from the 18th century to the present. On exhibit are sets and costume designs, photographs and other documents.

The Shalyapin Museum

The museum is located west of the Kremlin, next to the American Embassy building on Garden Ring Street. The great Russian bass singer Fyodor Shalyapin moved into this house in 1910 and lived there until 1920 with his Italian wife and five children. His Boris in Mussorgskys "Boris Godunov," Mephistopheles in Gounods "Faust" and Don Basilio in Rossinis "The Barber of Seville" had unforgettable success. Shalyapin enjoyed the company of intimate guests, among them Tolstoy, Chekhov, Rachmaninov and Boris Pasternaks father. Their portraits decorate the museum along with Shalyapins Bechstein piano and other personal things. In 1922 Shalyapin left Russia and settled in Paris. He died in 1938 from leukemia and was buried in Paris until the former Soviet government allowed his ashes to be buried at Novodevichy Cemetry in 1984.

The Glinka Museum of Musical Culture

This museum will acquaint you with the life and work of Russian classical composers Mikhail Glinka, Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov and Modest Mussorgsky. Also on display is a unique collection of 1,500 musical instruments from all over the world.

Russian Writers and Poets in Moscow

Russia is a country with a considerable cultural heritage. The names of Russian writers are known all over the world and most of them are still in the list of favorites and frequently published. We would like to introduce you to another view to discover Moscow as a city of Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Chekhov and Gorky.

Peredelkino Writers Colony

Located in the town of Peredelkino, about 15 km. from the city, the village was established in 1936 during the Stalinist era and served as a writers colony. Novelist Alexey Tolstoy, poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich and his wife, opera singer Galina Vihnevskaya, all have lived here. It was in Peredelkino that Rostropovich gave refuge to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, a Nobel Prize winner for literature. Another world-class poet, Boris Pasternak, also lived there from 1939 until his death. Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize for his "Doctor Zhivago," the epic tale that became an international best-seller translated into 18 languages. Pasternak was expelled from the Union Soviet Writers and "Doctor Zhivago" was not published in his homeland until 1987. Although he was disgraced by the Soviets, thousands came to Pasternaks funeral in 1960. He wanted to be buried near the pine tree here and his wish was granted. Nowadays Peredelkino is also a villa featuring private territory with a nice park and a pond. It can accommodate around 20 persons in two-room suites. There is a restaurant that can seat about 35, conference room for 100, billiards, sauna, reception hall for 60 and a tennis court.

Tolstoys house in Khamovniki

Located in Lev Tolstoy street, near the Park Kultury metro station, is the residence where the writer, philosopher, moralist and mystic lived every winter from 1882 to 1901 to enable his many children to attend proper school in the city. He bought the cottage mostly to placate his wife, who wanted to enjoy the conveniences of Moscow and cultural life. In this house recitals and literary soirees were organized in the drawing room. Sergey Rachmaninov played the piano and Fyodor Shalyapin sang here. The family also entertained the painter Ilya Repin; several of his portraits of family members are on display. Built in the 1820s it was characteristic of a home on the outskirts of Moscow. Tolstoy had no electricity or running water and the house remains without electricity to this day.

Yasnaya Polyana Tolstoys Estate (summer only)

The almost lifelong residence of novelist Lev Tolstoy. This town near Tula and about 120 km. south of Moscow was where the artist spent more than a half-century. After marrying in 1862, he settled on his estate and began working on "War and Peace," which, with "Anna Karenina," was written in Yasnaya Polyana. Portraits of the writer by painter Ilya Repin and Ivan Kramskoy are on display. You can also see a photograph that was presented to Tolstoy by Edison and a portrait of the real Anna Karenina. Tolstoys library contained 22,000 books in 35 languages and some insist that he spoke several himself.

The Mayakovsky Museum

Centrally located, the museum represents the house where the leader of Russian avant-garde poetry lived from 1919 to 1930. It is recreated here as a futuristic multi-level panorama in true Mayakovsky spirit: revolutionary, unconventional, disdainful of classical art and religion. Documents, newspaper articles and objects of every description are attached to the surfaces and are next to photographs of Mayakovsky and other revolutionary symbols. Also on display are the poets manuscripts, paintings, posters, drawings, books and personal belongings.

The Chekhov Museum

Located on Garden Ring Street, the museum is the house where Anton Chekhov - the author of "The Cherry Orchard," "The Seagull" and "The Three Sisters" - stayed with his family from 1886 to 1890. During this time he abandoned medicine and became a writer. Dr. Chekhov had two large rooms and a study on the ground floor where he received his patients, and upstairs in the sitting room he entertained his friends, such as the composer Tchaikovsky, the painter Isaak Levitan and the architect Fyodor Shekhtel.

Bulgakovs Flat

Built in 1910, this was a fashionable house that belonged to three Moscow artists. There was at one time a bohemian cafe, "Stables of Pegasus," in the basement, where the dissolute Russian poet Sergey Yesenin met his future wife, dancer Isadora Duncan. Bulgakov flat. No 50 is one on the left on the top floor and you will immediately recognize the interior, which is painted over from the floor to the ceiling with graffiti messages that deal with Bulgakovs fictional characters. The courtyard is just as dirty as one described in the artists satirical masterpiece "The Master and Margarita," written in secrecy between 1928 and 1940 and published in a censored edition only in 1966. The novel is a work of political satire, featuring a visit to Moscow by the devil himself and involving all sorts of extremely clever digs at Stalinism, power, authority and human nature.

The Gorky Museum

It seems ironic that The Gorky Museum is housed in a splendid art-nouveau style mansion that Bolsheviks stole from Stepan Ryabushinsky, chairman of the Stock Exchange, collector of icons and patron of the arts. Maxim Gorky, father of Social Realism, seems to have enjoyed creature comfort. After his exile on the island of Capri, he was invited by Stalin himself to come back to a new Russia, and upon his return the best residence by Shekhtel (the architect) became Gorkys residence. A startling limestone staircase in the shape of a wave leads to the second floor; splendid oak doorways and large windows, all different, can be admired throughout the house. The mansion become a museum in 1965, although members of Gorkys family lived here until 1971 and, by comic fortune, Stalins son Vassily worked there after Gorkys death.