Russia - A Vacation of Quiet Mystique

Russia has always held a quiet mystique for travelers and casual observers. A large country stretching across both Europe and Asia, tourists find this country not only expansive geographically, but expansive in the history, sights and lore that it holds. A vacation to the capital city of Moscow is on the top of travelers' lists across the globe. Tourists in the city are presented with a living history of the city and the country.

Moscow is littered with famous monuments, including a monument to the city's founder, Yury Dolgoruky. Perhaps the most famous landmark in Moscow is Red Square, which is home to several famous sights. The tomb of Vladimir Lenin sits in Red Square, as does St. Basil's Cathedral. In front of St. Basil's is a monument to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, who, along with a volunteer army, helped to expel the Poles from the Kremlin which ended the Time of Troubles, an uneasy period of Russian history. The Lobnoye Mesto sits in front of St. Basil's as well and was used for public ceremonies. It is now a popular sight for tourists in the city.

Perhaps most famously, Red Square is home to the Kremlin, the home of the current Russian president, on one side. The Kremlin itself has a history all its own and is one of the most cherished and interesting pieces of Russian history and pride. The State Historical Museum is another popular destination for tourists in Moscow as is Kazan Cathedral.

Alexander Garden runs the length of the Western Kremlin wall and holds the distinction of being one of the first public parks in the city. Alexander Garden is home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a war memorial to the Russian soldiers that died on the Eastern Front of World War II from 1941 to 1945. An eternal flame burns on the tomb which was lit from the Eternal Flame at the Field of Mars in Saint Petersburg. It was created in 1967 and is a must see while in Moscow.

Kilometre Zero is the point in Russia from which distances are measured. It is marked by a bronze plaque sitting in front of the Iberian Chapel. It is near the State Historical Museum and Moscow City Hall in Red Square.

Moscow is full of famous museums that shed light on Russia's history. Heading to the museums is a great way to spend a Moscow vacation, as it will give insight into Russia's history, which is an education in and of itself for most tourists. Some of the museums in the city are the Kremlin Armoury, Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of the Great Patriotic War (WWII) and Tretyakov Gallery. Others also exist which hold important pieces of Moscow culture and history.

Moscow is home to Luzhniki Stadium, the largest sports stadium in the country and home to the 1980 Summer Olympic Games, an Olympics in which the United States and 60 other countries did not partake. Many theaters, including the Bolshoi Theater, offer entertainment around the city.

For more information on Moscow, Russia visit http://moscow.tv