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.
The square’s name derives from the word «krasnyi», which once meant «beautiful». Russian Tsar Ivan IV gave the square this name in the XVII century.
The buildings surrounding the Square are all fantastic. They are the Kremlin Walls, the Mausoleum of Vladimir Lenin (the Father of the Russian Revolution), St. Basil’s Cathedral, Lobnoe mesto (The Place of Skulls), the State Department Store (GUM), the State Historical Museum.
GETTING TO RED SQUARE
Today, the square is a pedestrian zone. It is open to the public. But during the holidays, military parades, it can be closed or the square access can be restricted for some time. Since Red Square is in the heart of Moscow, the best way to get there is by Metro. The nearest metro stations are «Okhotny Ryad» (red line), «Teatralnaya» (green line) and «Ploshchad Revolyutsii» (dark blue line).
- Red Square
- Red Square during New Year
