The Red Square

The Red Square

Red Square remains, as it has been for centuries, the heart and soul of Russia. Few places in the world bear the weight of history to the extent that Moscow's central square does. From the 16th Century St. Basil's Cathedral - one of the most famous pieces of architecture in the world - to the constructivist pyramid of Lenin's Mausoleum, Red Square is rich in symbols of Russia's turbulent and intriguing past.
 Red Square travel, Moscow, Russia Tourist Attractions
Nestled next to the Kremlin, Moscow's Red Square is a part of the capital's historic center. Accessible on most days, Red Square teems with tourists and Russians alike. On one end stands the symbolic St. Basil's Cathedral, built by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century, and on the other stands the white-roofed Russian History Museum, looking perpetually as if it has seen a dusting of snow after the rough winter has subsided.
On certain days, you can wait in line to see Lenin's body lying in repose in his black stone tomb, then subsequently be fed out onto Red Square's brick expanse. Directly opposite, you'll see a the long-sided facade of GUM, the State Department Store.

Red Square attractions

Red Square is best at twilight, when most tourists have headed back to their hotels, exhausted, and when most Russians have finished their work day. The sun sets especially late in the summer, and its weakened rays washing over the rusty paving stones and filtering through St. Basil's spires bring history and present into perspective, dimming signs of Red Square travel modernity and welcoming shadowy ghosts. Canberra

Red Square has been the site of public ceremonies, grand parades, and even assassinations and executions. Today, though a place of congregation for tourists, Red Square has lost none of its gravitas or symbolism.

Red Square tourism

The Red Square (Krasnaja Ploshad) was a market place in the fifteenth century and acquired its present name in the seventeenth century. Red does not refer to Communism but derives from the old Russian word 'krasniy' meaning beautiful. Well known for its May Day parades during the Soviet regime, it is the site of Lenin's Mausoleum and the colourful Cathedral of St Basil the Blessed, with its domes, towers and spires, each bearing a distinctive pattern and colour. Behind the Mausoleum is the Kremlin wall which contains a mass grave of Bolsheviks who perished during the battle for Moscow in 1917, together with the ashes of a number of well-known Russians, including writer Maxim Gorky and Yuriy Gagarin, the first man in space. The State History Museum stands at the north end of the square and contains a vast array of archaeological finds and relics pertaining to the history of the city.
Red Square travel, Moscow, Russia Tourist Attractions
Have a virtual wander with me around the very heart of Moscow and see the city's most famous landmarks! This is Red Square! The one you've heard so much about - here it is! It's the oldest square in Moscow, has enjoyed a fascinating and tumultuous history and boasts some of the city's most photographed buildings.