I saw this and just could not believe how tacky it is. I had to know how something so ugly could get built. I finally found a local who explained it to me. The story told to me goes something like this.
The statue was built as a representation of Christopher Columbus and was offered to the USA by the communist government (CCCP) to commemorate the anniversary of Columbus "discovering" America.
The Americans politely turned them down as the Russians would have expected this monstrosity to be erected ala' the Statue of Liberty.
The Russians were incensed by the snub. The cut the head of Columbus off the statue and placed the head of Peter the Great instead. It was then erected on the banks of the Moskva river where it is now.
It now commemorates the explorations sanctioned by Peter the Great. Now I'm not sure if this is all true but it would explain everything except tha fact that this thing is really horrible.
Updated Dec 21, 2004
The Seven Sisters in Moscow consist of seven similiarly designed skyscrapers, built during the 1940's-50's under Stalin's instruction. They consist of:
1. Moscow State University (Constructed mostly by German prisoners of war),
2. Ukrainia Hotel (Tallest hotel in Europe, was tallest in world when completed, with over 1000 rooms)
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
4. Kotelnicheskaya Naberezhnaya (Kotelniki Apartments)
5. Red Gate Square (Ministry of Transport, other Administration and apartments),
6. Leningradskaya Hotel,
7. Kudrinskaya Square (Apartment block, containing 452 flats)
The buildings are all impressive, it is worth while to visit some if you have the opportunity, to feel their dominance up close.
Written Sep 14, 2004
Address: various locations
There are 7 tall buildings in Moscow built in 1950-s - so-called Stalin's Skyscrapers.
1. Lomonosov Moscow State University
2. Block of Flats on Kotelnecheskaya enbankment (on the photo)
3. Block of Flats on Krasnaya Presnya
4. Hotel "Lenindradskaya"
5. Hotel "Ukraina"
6. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
7. Ministry of Transport
All are worth to see, but first two in a list I consider to be masterpieces of architecture.
Updated Mar 28, 2004
there are 7 similar buildings in different places of the city (they also are called "seven sisters")...such style is called "stalin's gothic".
one of them is the Moscow University (MGU),
two are hotels, two are the ministries of foreign affairs and of transportation, and the other two are blocks of private flats
Updated Feb 29, 2004
Address: various locations
Ok, we have weddings in Moscow.
We also have "wedding-cake" architecture here :-)
Commonly known as that "wedding-cake" style, the Stalinist Gothic style of architecture can be found at key areas in Moscow. There are about 7 of them & I think I saw 3.
Some of the most distinctive are those of the Foreign Ministry, the Moscow University & Hotel Ukraine.
Written Dec 18, 2003
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of seven skyscrapers that were erected during Stalin's rule. Due to their wedding cake appearance, they were nicknamed the Seven Sisters. We noticed at least three of them, from various points in the city, during our walks, but this one was the only one whose doorstep we reached.
Construction of the building began in the 1930s and was completed in 1952. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of External Economic Links and the Ministry of the Russian Federation are located in the offices. Although we didn't go inside, it is worth checking out one of these Sisters up close, to get a good sense of their awesome dimensions (172 metres high).
Written Oct 23, 2003
Address: Smolenskaya Ploshchad
Look at the architecture of Soviet times (continued).
This is a building of Ministry of Internal Affairs, that I told about earlier on the page. As you can see, it is very similar to Moscow State University's main building indeed.
Written Aug 24, 2002
Updated Jun 9, 2011
Address: Moscow, B. Semenovskaya, 16
Website: http://www.kompanion-msk.ru
Under construction
Updated Oct 20, 2006
Address: various locations
This "sister" houses a ministery. It is located near Metro Smolenskaya and Golden Ring hotel. The traffic racing past is absolutely terrible, so please use the underpass.
Written Apr 9, 2006
Address: Metro Smolenskaya
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Vysotki (aka Seven Sisters) tips and photos posted by real travelers and Moscow locals.
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This "sister" houses a ministery. It is located near Metro Smolenskaya and Golden Ring hotel. The traffic racing past is absolutely terrible, so please use the...
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