Location: District Central (TsAO)
Top Things to do in District Central (TsAO)
Things to do in Moscow, Central Russia: The Best Architectural Buildings
The political, scientific, historical, architectural and business center of Russia, Moscow displays the country's contrasts at their most extreme. The ancient and modern are juxtaposed side by side in this city of 10 million. Catch a metro from one of the ornate stations to see Red Square, the Kremlin, the nine domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, the KGB Museum and other symbols of Moscow's great and terrible past, then lighten up and shop Boulevard Ring or people watch in Pushkin Square.
Restaurants in Moscow
1. Andronikov Monastery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 73 reviews
The monastery was founded in the mid-14th century by Metropolitan Alexis, a prominent church figure in his time. The first superior of the monastery was a disciple of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, Andronicus, whose name the monastery bears to this day. The architectural monuments of the monastery ensemble date back to the 15th–19th centuries. These include the oldest remaining stone building in Moscow—the Cathedral of the Savior, built in the time of Andrey Rublev. Since 1947, the Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art named after Andrei Rublev has been located in the Spaso-Andronikov Monastery on the picturesque bank of the Yauza River.
Reviewed By aniska - Leeds, United Kingdom
The Monastery of the Saviour was founded in 1360 and is the oldest example of Russian stone architecture, which still exists at present day. Originally, the Monastery had wooden walls, which functioned as defense. From 1420 to 1428 the Cathedral was reconstructed and its walls were painted in white. The famous Russian painters Andrei Rublev and Daniel Chorny painted it but, unfortunately, their frescoes were destroyed by the 18th-century reconstruction and only a few small pieces survived. In 1812, the dome was destroyed by the fire, but got immediately reconstructed. In the 1840s, the interior changed. It was crowned with a tented-roof octagonal drum. Side chapels dedicated to St. Andronik and the Dormition were added to the northern and southern walls, which made the original appearance to be completely lost. However, in the 1950s and 1960s, the Cathedral was restored to its original state. From the 16th to the 19th century a refectory, side chapels, a cleric building, a Fraternal Building were added. In 1747 to 1756, the Cathedral got its stone walls. The old bell tower over the Holy Gates near the Cathedral of the Saviour was replaced by a new one 73 meters high. The temple was also used as a prison and as any other temple, the Monastery has its own cemetery that existed up to 1929. After the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Monastery was badly damaged. In 1919, it was occupied by proletarians. In the spring of 1922, all valuables were confiscated, and a juvenile prison for street children was established. In 1930, the bell tower was exploded. In 1947, the Monastery was announced a cultural reserve and many Old Russian icons were brought and kept there. In 1989, the Monastery was handed back to the Orthodox Church and has functioned since then. What strikes most, when visiting it, is the cleanliness of the whole area, the perfect lawn, the flowers, everything is perfectly kept and maintained. This results in a special, mystic feeling of sacredness and peace. Absolutely worth a visit, it easily reachable from Rimskaya metro station, just 5 minutes on foot.
2. House of Friendship With Peoples of Foreign Countries (A.A. Morozov's mansion)
3. Church of St. Martin the Confessor
4. Savvinskoye Podvorye
5. House of Pertsova
6. Our Lady of Smolensk Novodevichy Convent
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,795 reviews
Located near the Moscow River, this peaceful retreat from the bustling city includes a spectacular 16th-century convent and a cemetery where many of the country's most famous writers, poets, politicians and public figures are buried.
Reviewed By israroz - Ra'anana, Israel
From the almost endless supply of tourist sites and places of interest in Moscow, the city of Moscow offers the visitors a wonderful site known as the "Our Lady of Smolensk Novodevichy Convent" which, in my humble opinion, is in the "opening quintet" of the sites that are absolutely mandatory to visit. Although over the past few years, including our days, parts of the convent are not open to the public because of the renovation and reconstruction works done by UNESCO, partial tours that are open to the public are not to be missed. The richness and splendor sprouting throughout the complex are incredible and must to be visited. The cemetery adjacent to the monastery site where many famous personalities from all walks of life of Russia / the Soviet Union are buried, is also an amazing tourist gem worth a visit on its own.
7. Moscow Metro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,999 reviews
Reviewed By ukienomad - Fleming Island, United States
The subway or underground lives up to its reputation as it is clean, and a piece of art with beautiful chandeliers, frescoes, large bronze statues, marble, etc. the trains run very frequently and as soon as one leaves, there seems to be another one in a matter of minutes. They do have English speaking people to help you get tickets as well as English vending machines. And the fares are very reasonable as this is the most frequent use of transportation for the locals.
8. GUM
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,971 reviews
The largest department store in Russia, dating back to the days of the tsars, is located opposite the Kremlin in Red Square.
Reviewed By sufu13 - London, United Kingdom
Simply vast & amazing. It has everything & more, a vast stunning department store where you can pretty much buy anything, browse for hours, have a tea/coffee & amazing cakes, warm up Great history Everything is laid out so beautifully Just stunning, you could spend days in there
9. Bolshoi Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,869 reviews
The oldest theater in Moscow, rebuilt following a fire and later a hurricane, is magnificent both inside and out, and its resident opera and ballet troupes rate among the finest in the world.
Reviewed By StAlbansPadre - St. Albans, United Kingdom
ABOVE ALL ELSE use the official website and ignore all others. We booked for the ballet, scheduled for the 30th April, which was of course cancelled due to the virus. The refund appeared on my credit card exactly 30 days later, exactly as promised. Booking was straightforward, and prices cheaper than the Royal Opera House, and we managed to book the front Row, Seats A6 and 7! Communications, in English and Russian, were excellent. I would not hesitate to use that official website in future -most impressive, secure and efficient.
10. Kremlin Walls and Towers
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,883 reviews
The Kremlin's redbrick walls and 18 towers were built at the end of the 15th century by the Italian craftsmen Pietro Antonio Solari and Antonio Fryazin. The famous Spasskaya (Saviour) Tower is the main and official entrance to the Kremlin and its symbol.
Reviewed By Lon-DMe - Wembley, United Kingdom
Nice area to walk along Moscow river and take in the size of the area surrounding the kremlin, best at dusk and early morning
