Moscow Metro, Moscow

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Favorite thing: Moscow's metro was inaugurated in 1935 and since then the network grew to 11 lines and covers a distance of about 300 km. Many of the stations from Soviet times are fine examples of socialist realism and therefore well worth seeing.

Unfortunately, in the past taking photos was prohibited, but nowadays it looks like nobody really cares about this.

Among the higlights of the metro stations are: Komsomolskaya and Kievskaya (brown line), Park Kultury (red line), Mayakovskaya (green line) and Ploshchad Revolutsiy (blue line).

For more practical info about the metro, please have a look at my "Transportation Tips".

Fondest memory: Metro station: Detail of Komsomolskaya

Favorite thing: Marble, gilt, chandeliers, mosaics, bronze sculptures - the Moscow Metro really does bring a grandiose touch to the everyday routine of catching a train around the city. Not all the stations are elaborate, but some are truly "palaces for the people". The themes are generally historical or an idealized depiction of Socialist life. Visiting all of them could consume a great part of the time you have in Moscow.

Fondest memory: Life-size bronze sculptures of the heroic proletariat line the main hall and escalators of the Ploshchad Revoluyutsii (Revolution Square) and glorify the the lives, work and heroism of the ordinary men and women of the Russian Revolution. It is an extraordinary body of work, well worth a good look.

Favorite thing: Station " Novoslobodskaya ". Pillons of a platform hall are reveted with white Ural marble. The original color stained-glass windows, decorating pillons, are executed by the Riga masters. Design of the hall is combined with a granite floor and with facing walls in white ceramic bar.

Favorite thing: Station "Kropotkinskaya" was open also in 1935. The top part of marble columns is decorated with capitals, in which lighting appliance, invisible from below, are built. Due to such arrangement of lamps soft and uniform illumination of all the hall is created.

Favorite thing: The arch of station "Belorusskaya" (1938), supported with powerful pillons, is reveted with a dark-pink marble. The floor is laid out with plates of black and grey granite. Lateral parts of the hall are shined with round lusters, the central part v in addition, bronze standard lamps.

Favorite thing: In architectural design of station " Novokuznetskaya" (1943) the theme of Russian people strength has found a bright embodiment. Seven smalto panels tell about work of Russian people in rear. Marble benches for passengers are installed. Bronze standard lamps are applied for illumination.

Favorite thing: Station " Kievskaya ". Pillons are reveted with white Ural marble "koelga" and are topped with a complex ceramic cornice. On the arch in huge modelled medallions frescos are located. In facing walls the white and black marble is used. The floor is laid out with grey granite.

Favorite thing: And I don't mean any modern artistic tendence, but the real masterpieces you can find in some of the oldest subway stations in Moscow. It was considered the best way to take art to the streets, to the people, and I really agree.
These are the best:
- Komsomolskaia
- Kievskaia
- Krasnie Varota
- Kirovskaia
- Dzerkinskaia
But there are a lot to visit, look at any tourist guide book.

Fondest memory: More info at:
http://www.moscow-guide.ru/culture/metro.htm

Favorite thing: The design of an underground hall of station "Mayakovskaya" (1938) is unique. The model of the station was exhibited at the international exhibition in New York in 1938 and was awarded with "Grand prix".

Favorite thing: Station " Square of Revolution ". In niches of the hall 76 sculptural groups are installed. The black Armenian marble "davalu" is successfully combined with red, light-golden, white and grey marble of other breeds.