The old and new capitals of Russia will always find only negative sides in each other, and this is normal, and is it worth thinking about it if, in the “struggle” for maintaining or maintaining the status, these most beautiful cities literally “overgrown” with palaces, galleries, parks, sculptures, shopping malls and so on down the list.
parks
The central district of the capital – standing on the banks of the Moscow River – is a really popular place. And we are not even talking about illuminated modernity, but about the nineteenth century, covered with the efforts of the classics with a semi-romantic flair, when artists, comedians and circus performers flocked here, ready to demonstrate their talents in all their abundance. Today, the popularity of this part of the city is more and more like a constant, also due to the presence of luxurious parks, which, even with December frosts, are in no hurry to lose their charm.
Heads the list of relatively old parks of the city Neskuchny Sad, which got its rather eccentric name due to the unusual decision of its caretakers: most of the employees who kept order tried to stand completely still, creating the illusion of statues, and faces and clothes smeared with chalk completed the image.
But as soon as the potential intruder showed himself, the “statues” instantly came to life. The boring garden in its design resembles rather a sketch on the theme of the nineteenth century with bridges, sculptures and several “houses” in which not the last people of the empire preferred to live. All this, wrapped in snow-white capes, creates an amazing holiday atmosphere. The twenty-first century added ice slides, which are also popular among adults, as some sections of the “piste” can be simply dangerous for the little guests of the Neskuchny Garden.
The park, proudly bearing the name of Maxim Gorky today, has already crossed its centenary. This place was originally created not so much for entertainment purposes as for ideological ones: it was necessary to proclaim cultural superiority, which resulted in the creation of the first children's railway in Russia in those days, numerous sculptures and other structures.
Various performances and lectures are often held here, and numerous cafes are ready to warm the guests of Gorky Park.
The third park of the capital, which completes the park complex of the Moscow River, is the park on Sparrow Hills. Of course, it is rather difficult to call the local hills “mountains”, however, even so, stunning views of the December capital open up from their peaks. In addition, this place is ideal for lovers of downhill skiing – you can climb any of the open “tops” by cable car, but go down already “with the breeze”. Those who are not very confident on skis can contact one of the local ski schools, whose trainers will help to cope with these difficulties.
rollers
The winter image of the capital would be incomplete without the numerous ice rinks that open in almost all Moscow parks. This entertainment is interesting for both children and adults, and therefore evening skating rinks with lights and cheerful music invariably gather around them skate lovers and their attendants. Not all skating rinks in Moscow, fortunately, are paid, which does not affect the quality of pastime. This applies to both indoor and outdoor skating rinks.
The park, located on the Angarsk Ponds, is especially bustling in winter because of the hyperactive kids that gather here. It is here that one of the most popular skating rinks in Moscow is located, the entrance to which is free. Here, with the first winter days, figure skating schools and some sections open.
Perhaps the skating rink in Goncharovsky Park is not the largest in the capital, but this does not prevent it from working stably. This is an artificial ice rink, and therefore the quality of the coating does not depend on the tricks of capricious weather. There is a skate rental point in the park, and the fee is taken not for one hour of skating, but for the whole day, which few skating rinks in the capital can boast of.
Among the paid parks, the complexes in Gorky Park and Sokolniki are fighting for the first place. It should be taken into account the fact that both parks are quite large, and therefore there are several ice skating grounds on their territories.
For example, three skating rinks will operate in Sokolniki Park at once. “Giant” is the oldest of the presented trinity, and it is also free. In the coming winter, not only the Great Circle, but also the Birch Alley will be flooded. The ice of the “Giant” is natural, and therefore the opportunity to visit the skating rink is highly dependent on the temperature regime.
Guests of the “Giant” are guaranteed not to freeze – trays are scattered everywhere where you can buy hot tea or even fragrant mulled wine, so-called outdoor fireplaces work. The second site of the park – “Ice” – is paid and is considered the most modern. It connects with the “Giant” by a vault of wooden arches, beautifully illuminated in the evening.
A kind of tunnel of light smoothly flows into the lighting of the rink itself, which is ready to demonstrate a real show with the participation of light installations and lasers. Entrance to this site will cost up to three hundred and fifty rubles, depending on the day of the week. The Ice Rink in the Forest completes the trinity and is also free to visit.
The skating rink in Gorky Park promises to be a hit this winter. The theme of this year is modernity, namely the world of street art. The rather large-scale installation “Frozen Fountain” should become a hallmark, the diameter of which is really amazing – almost twenty-five meters. The skating rink itself will rather resemble a light show – multi-colored diodes will be built into the ice itself, and various decorative elements will shimmer in all possible shades. Prices for entering the park vary – on weekdays they can reach three hundred rubles, and on weekends – up to five hundred.
Museums
Museum life also does not slow down. And we are talking about both the recognized titans of the museum world, and about small relatively museum complexes of an unusual profile. Everyone knows that in Moscow there is one “bad apartment”, which, like the Sherlock Holmes fortress, first appeared in an ink version, and only then acquired a material analogue.
Today, at the address of the apartment where M. A. Bulgakov himself lived (Sadovaya st., 10, apt. 50), there is the only museum in Russia so far dedicated to the author of the immortal novel himself – a kind of “La Gioconda” in literature – and his heritage. A visit to this apartment is an event that should not be missed, because its atmosphere is really filled with something subtly mystical.
The expositions of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (Petrovka St., 25), again the first, but already somewhat different from the previous mentioned museum, continue to shock their guests – the work of innovators of the twentieth century and modernity. Of course, the showcased collections are based on the avant-garde trend in all its horror and grandeur.
These are the works of recognized avant-garde masters from abroad, for example, Salvador Dali, Henri Rousseau, Pablo Picasso and many others. Also present are the pioneers of the Russian avant-garde, natives of the “Jack of Diamonds”, “Blue Rose” and “Donkey's Tail”: Mikhail Larionov, Wassily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Kazimir Malivich, Natalia Goncharova and others.
Interesting places
The first winter month transforms not only nature. Dressed in a snow-white fur coat and decorated with iridescent garlands, the streets and squares take on a special solemn look, and popular sights with their new bright beauty and romantic charm surprise even the indigenous inhabitants of the metropolis. To visit interesting places in Moscow in December means to plunge into the magical festive atmosphere and gain impressions for the whole coming year.
Tretyakov Gallery
Among the museums famous for their collections of paintings of various directions, the Tretyakov Gallery (Lavrushinsky per., 10) occupies a prominent place, which has one of the most complete collections of Russian art of the nineteenth century, collected on the personal initiatives of a man with perfect taste – Pavel Tretyakov.
It is here that you can get acquainted with the paintings of the Wanderers, learn a little more about the founder of the gallery and his relationship with representatives of the artistic world of those days. The comments of the guide, who himself is in love with these pages of the fine arts of his country, will fill the tour with colors.
No less interesting and exciting can be a visit to the building of the Tretyakov Gallery, which was completed later – on Krymsky Val. Here, the help of a guide is already guaranteed to be needed to understand the main trends that the twentieth century offered. Of particular interest are the halls of the so-called “Apartment Art”, that is, those halls where paintings are presented that previously visited only exhibitions, often held only in the apartments of the artists themselves.
Sretenka
Every city that allows itself to proudly recall not only fragmentary pages of its history, but the entire historical process, does not forget about its own origins, which usually lay between the ancient masonry of “central”, “axial” streets.
Today, many will say with confidence that such a centripetal, the core of Moscow is Tverskaya Street, however, it received such a status only in the eighteenth century. What street previously bore such a high title?
Sretenka is very different from other, even historical, streets of Moscow already by the fact that its seemingly strange name has not changed even once in the entire history of its centuries-old existence. It is worth noting that earlier Sretenka was more associated with the Orthodox component of the city, which was traditionally strong, even its very name comes from the Church Slavonic version of the language. Today, only Rozhdestvensky Boulevard remains from the luxury of bygone days, which continues to be decorated by two monasteries that survived after the Soviet period – Sretensky and Rozhdestvensky.
You can explore the most mysterious, mystical and scandalous nooks and crannies of Russian history thanks to an excursion with a very energetic guide. Such an excursion, as a rule, begins with Trubnaya Square and the history of its very peculiar name, followed by the former quarters of “free” love from prejudices and the massacres in the slums of Grachevka, the chirping of feathered inhabitants of the bird market, taverns with very impressive stocks of gossip collected over decades, the gloss of the most luxurious tenement houses in Moscow, the former houses of Pushkin, Tchaikovsky, Lermontov and the names of the Decembrists embroidered in gold.
A special point is the Sukharev Tower and the half-forgotten stories of one of the most successful “warlocks” in history. The tour will be interesting not only from a historical or even educational point of view, but also from an elementary interest, because the famous and eminent “flea market” continues to work, like a hundred years before.
Moscow Metro
With the subway, many people have not the most rosy associations – rush hour, crowds of people walking in continuous streams along noisy corridors, eternal quarrels and too loud conversations that you don't always want to hear. And if we are talking about the Moscow metro, the association is squared, and after some thought, even a cube, but such a biased impression is fundamentally wrong.
Today, the metro is considered rather from practical points of view, in order to banally bury your nose in a book or phone, close yourself from the world with headphones and quickly get to the desired area of the city. But at the time of the beginning of its construction, the metro was perceived rather as a symbol of the victory of human thought over nature – a symbol of another victory.
But the Moscow metro is more like a book with more than colorful illustrations, only this book is unfortunate, because few people today consider the visualized images of Gothic stained-glass windows, sculptures of the High Renaissance, the variety of images of blessed Florence, frozen in the time of Dante. There are also very curious parallels between the above-ground buildings and the appearance of the subway in certain sections of the route.
All this can be learned during a tour of the Moscow metro that is amazing in its content. The excursion program includes visiting only seven stations and takes no more than two hours in time, but its structure itself is more than rational: consecutive visits to these stations will allow you not only to learn to notice the “hidden” monuments and passages of the subway, but also to trace how it has changed since the thirties of the last century.
the Red Square
Acquaintance with the New Year's capital traditionally begins on the main city square. The symbol of the greatness of the Russian state appeared in front of the walls of the Kremlin at the end of the 15th century. In its long life, this space paved with paving stones has seen many historical events: the battle with Batu's army, executions at the Execution Ground, the invasion of Napoleon's army … In June 1945, the Victory Parade thundered all over the world here.
For tourists, Red Square is a real Eldorado. By the number of architectural masterpieces per square meter, it left other popular places of the city far behind. A single majestic ensemble is created by St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, Kazan Cathedral, GUM, the Historical Museum, the monument to Minin and Pozharsky. And in front of the Resurrection Gate there is a sign “Kilometer Zero of the Russian Federation.”
In the winter months, the palm among the main attractions of Red Square clearly belongs to the legendary skating rink. Isn't this the best souvenir brought from the snow-covered capital? And if fortune smiles, you can get a priceless trophy in the form of a selfie with figure skating stars or take part in master classes with outstanding athletes.
GUM Fair
Cutting through the ice surface of the skating rink on Red Square, it is almost impossible to freeze. But if, nevertheless, such an unfortunate incident happened to you, you can fix it at the GUM Fair – the Christmas market, located next to the main Christmas tree of the country. European and Russian dishes, painted carousels and fervent music – all this awaits the participants of the celebration, which starts near the Kremlin walls in December.
Cozy houses-caskets stretched from Ilyinka to the Historical Museum. On the counters of local merchants there are Christmas decorations, trinkets dear to the heart, knitted mittens, lacquer boxes and national souvenirs: nesting dolls, felt boots, Gzhel porcelain, Pavlovo Posad shawls. The tempting aromas of pancakes, baked potatoes, roasted chestnuts and grilled sausages make you hungry, while scalding mulled wine and herbal tea warm your body and soul.
A visit to GUM will also leave vivid impressions. In the days of December, the luxury store dresses up with its excellent taste and unique chic. You can wander for hours along the long light lines. And it doesn't matter if the astronomical prices in designer boutiques cause only bewilderment. After all, the trading house offers amazing decorations, traditional New Year's exhibitions and a festive atmosphere for free.
Nikolskaya street
One of the oldest city arteries, Nikolskaya Street, runs from Red Square to Lubyanka Square. It owes its name to the monastery of Nikola the Old, which appeared in 1390. At that time, Nikolskaya was part of the Vladimir highway connecting the Kremlin with Suzdal, Vladimir and Rostov the Great. Even before the advent of the walls of Kitay-gorod, there were already boyar courts, monasteries and shopping arcades here.
Such a popular place was chosen by representatives of the noble families of Vorotynsky, Dolgoruky, Trubetskoy, Sheremetev. Russian typography was born on Nikolskaya: in 1564, the work of Mstislavets and Fedorov “The Apostle” was published at the Printing Yard. And the spiritual school in the Zaikonospassky Monastery was known as the most prestigious educational institution in the country.
Walking along the lavishly illuminated Nikolskaya Street, visit the luxurious GUM Department Store, the historic Ferreina Pharmacy and the Kazan Cathedral, the place where the venerated icon of the Mother of God is kept. Look into the courtyard of the former Nikolo-Greek Monastery, where there is a small square with benches where no one ever sits. Is it because there used to be an ancient cemetery here?
Moscow City
The business center on Krasnopresnenskaya embankment evokes conflicting emotions among the residents of the capital. Some believe that the new Moscow verticals fit perfectly into the architectural image of the metropolis; others argue that gigantic glass and concrete towers disfigure the historic center. But be that as it may, the fact remains: ultra-modern skyscrapers annually attract tens of thousands of tourists.
It is better to start a tour of Moscow City with a visit to the highest museum in Europe. The futuristic exposition on the 56th floor of the Empire skyscraper introduces the history of the creation of a “city within a city” and non-trivial engineering solutions used in construction.
Armed with knowledge, you can sit in a bar or go to one of the four observation platforms. The most notable of these, the tower-based PNR360 Federation, boasts a virtual 3D exhibit and a real ice cream factory.
The complex is interesting not only for lovers of heavenly landscapes, but also for fans of shopping. The latter run the risk of getting lost among the 400 shops of the Afimall City shopping center. There is also a cinema, several cafes, an entertainment area for children and adults, a virtual reality park, and Airbus A320 and Boeing 737NG flight simulators. In general, you will not be bored.
Ostankino TV tower
Another Moscow giant rises on Academician Korolev Street. It took the architect Nikolai Nikitin a single night to develop a project for a unique building. It took seven long years to bring the designer's brilliant idea to life. The construction of the 540-meter reinforced concrete giant, which at that time led the hit parade of the tallest buildings in the world, ended in 1967.
A visit to the Ostankino Tower is possible only as part of an excursion group. The most exciting part of the visit is the ascent to the closed observation deck. The impression of the abyss opening under your feet is strengthened by the glass floor located at the exit from high-speed elevators. And those who want to find out all the secrets of engineering and get an adrenaline rush are waiting for the 85th level equipped with an open balcony.
You can combine sightseeing of the beauty of the capital and a delicious dinner at the “Seventh Heaven” – a revolving restaurant under the observation deck. Admiring the stunning panorama from a height of 328 m, do not forget about the purpose of your visit – to get acquainted with the positions of the heavenly menu. Creating culinary delights, the local chef put an emphasis on dishes of Russian and European cuisine.
VVC
With the advent of December, the main exhibition center of the capital turns into the City of Winter, full of light installations and great entertainment. For active recreation of children and adults, a giant skating rink is poured and a 7-meter tubing slide is installed.
With the onset of cold weather, Sky Town, a rope park with an area of 1,000 m2, located in the Zaprudnaya zone, does not stop working. In the covered pavilion near the Friendship of Peoples fountain, you can fight curling, and on the Yukigassen site you can play snowballs.
A Father Frost factory is opening in the Park of Crafts, where master classes are held to create colorful candies, Christmas tree decorations and holiday souvenirs. The Moskvarium does not stand aside either. Animal actors – sea lionesses, walrus, beluga whales, dolphins and killer whales – delight the audience with colorful New Year's performances.
A lot of interesting things await the guests of the All-Russian Exhibition Center and outside the walls of the pavilions. Interactive exhibits of the VDNKh Museum will tell about the years of the exhibition's formation, and the extensive multimedia collection of the historical park “Russia – My History” will tell about the history of the Motherland. It is always crowded in the Cosmonautics Pavilion, among whose 90,000 artifacts you will find the spacesuits of the first Soviet conquerors of the universe, Gagarin's capsule and the full-sized Soyuz spacecraft.
Theaters
The theatrical life of the capital does not freeze along with the ice of the skating rinks, but rather finds new interpretations of the plots known to everyone. For example, the Bolshoi Theater is in a hurry to open its two hundred and forty-first season.
This building, made in the classical style and in accordance with its high canons, today adorns Theater Square and, more than ever, pampers the discerning taste of its numerous guests with an abundance of genres and productions, among which ballet becomes the king: the brilliant creation of John Cranko “Onegin”, the complexity of the choreography and expressiveness of movements in “A Hero of Our Time”, subtle lyricism of “The Nutcracker”. Everyone knows these stories, but not everyone is ready to see them from a slightly different angle.
Frost and snowfall is not a reason to hibernate. In winter, even an ordinary walk along the capital streets shimmering with colorful garlands becomes a fabulous journey. Therefore, there is no need to think for a long time whether it is worth coming to Moscow in December. Pack warm clothes in your suitcase and go to the charming realm of fantastic installations, all kinds of entertainment and festive mood.