Tverskaya Street, Moscow

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Yuriy Dolgorukiy (Longarms) or George I was a Grand Prince of Kiev during the early part of the 12th century, and he was instrumental in the passage of power in the Rus' (the nucleus around which Russia was created) from families who favoured Novgorod over Kiev to their rivals. He is a pretty popular figure in Russian history, and this monument, which stands in Tverskaya square across from the Moscow Civil Administration, was erected in 1957 in his honour. Unlike many other monuments in Moscow, this one seems to be fairly free of the surly teenager crowd, which allows you to contemplate Yuriy in his mediaeval armour in peace.

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Tverskaya is an incredible street. It is massive - I think something like 6 lanes or 8 lanes across - and the buildings on either side augment the feeling of being overwhelmed by the sheer size of the place. More than that, however, it is a street that helps add to the Imperial grandeur of Moscow. On the one hand the street is lined with Western shops and brands, a tribute to the commercialism of the New Russians (i.e. the people with more money than common sense). On the other, there are still a number of grand old buildings, including the residence of the Moscow Mayor (currently Yuriy Luzhkov), with their pink façades, gold gilding and elegant cornices. It is as if Tverskaya is a response to the low-key and low to the ground buildings of Kitay Gorod, a reminder that this is not only a city of nearly 15 million (according to unofficial estimates) but that it is one of the most important places on earth, a centre of geo-politics, economy and fashion.

Philosophizing aside, Tverskaya is the place to go when you've had enough of the touristy clichés of Red and Revolution Squares and you want to experience the way (upper-class) Muscovites live. It is also informative, as this is the image Russians seek to present to the world, and it helps you to understand Russia so much better if you can breathe the atmosphere for an hour or two. Plus, it has one of the greatest bookstores ever, about 15 minutes north of Oxotny Ryad.

A lovely square on Tverskaya Street. The bronze statue of poet Alexander Pushkin in the centre seemed to be a place for people to meet during the day & evening. An ideal place to sit & watch Muscovites.

The City Administration (Meriya) is headquartered in a striking red Mossovet building on Tverskaya street. Across the street is the monument to the city founder, Yuri Dolgorukiy, the Prince of Vladimir. Moscow was founded in 1047 as his hunting castle. Each year in September the Day of the City is celebrated to commemorate the occasion.

That particular section of Tverskaya is built by striking Stalin-era apartment buildings.

This is a very special place for Muscovites. Pushkin was the most famous poet in Russian history who had unparalleled influence on development of Russian language, who put into beautiful poetry Russian fables, fairy tales, and history.

This is the favorite place for young people to meet on dates, for political dissidents to demonstrate, and generally to pass time in the nearby park with fountains. The central cinema was built conveniently at the opposite end of the square.

This is a must see museum if you are at all interested in Russian and Soviet history. Unfortunately all the signs are in Russian, so if you don't speak you will need to hire a guide or come with a friend.

This building has had an eventful history. It started as the "English Club", a prestigious and exclusive private club. Then it became Museum of Stalin, then Museum of Revolution, now it is called Museum of Modern History. It has retained tidbits of its incarnations.

There is a collection of gifts to Stalin, from a cinema projector to an American Indian headdress. Exhibits include artifacts from WW I, Revolutionary period, NEP era, Stalin's purges, WW II, post-war period, difficult times of democratization of the 1990s. The museum is excellent in its focus on telling a story rather than passing a judgment and taking sides.

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These robots made from scrap-iron details are Andrey's favourites.
From time to time new funny characters are added to this small exhibition so it never bores.
The robots are displayed at the corner of Tverskaya street and Pushkinskaya square, just behind the trolley-bus stop: quite dangereous location - we've missed no end of trolley-buses here.

This is a must in Moscow and Saint Petersburg (and in Kiev).
It is a luxurious shop like a palace, with enormous lamps and statues. They belonged to the family Eliseevky, and after the October Revolution were confiscated by the soviets.
In Saint Petersburg it is located in Nevsky Prospekt 56.
All the goods inside the shop are of first quality (but also “first prices”). You will find food from the five continents.