Moscow is the capital of Russia. It was first mentioned on the April 4th, 1147 in the chronicle which tells about Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy welcoming his guests. Moscow became the capital of Russian principalities in 1327. In the middle of 15th century, after the fall of Constantinople, Moscow announced itself the third Rome – earthly keeper of the Orthodox Church.

One of the main Russian points of interest is the Kremlin. The members of the royal family used to live there, but now it’s the place where official government meetings and receptions are held. The Kremlin, along with other architectural memorials, forms the historical nucleus of the city. Next to it stands the Lenin Mausoleum on Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and the monument dedicated to the leaders of resistance against the Polish intervention of the 17th century – Minin and Pozharsky.

There are over 60 theaters, 100 museums, and 75 institutions of higher education attended by more than 1.5 million students in Moscow. The Russian Science Academy is located in Moscow, and so is the most prestigious Russian educational institution – Moscow State University.

One of Moscow’s nicknames, Moscow the Goldheaded, was coined due to the huge number of Orthodox churches and cathedrals that rise their golden cupolas high up into the skies. One of the samples of religious architecture, Uspenskiy Cathedral, was not only the main church of the Russian state but also the main Russian public building constructed to become the place of splendid festive ceremonies. It’s the place where the most important governmental regulations were announced, where people used to swear allegiance to the Prince of Moscow, and where Russian tsars and emperors were crowned. Moscow patriarchs and metropolitans are also buried here.

It’s hard to name all the sights of Moscow, but here are some of them:

One of the greatest theaters, Bolshoy, is located at Theatre Square. The monumental white columns of the theater can be seen from any point of the square.

Another tourist attraction in Moscow is the Old Arbat. It’s a pedestrian street where you can meet portraitists, musicians, mimes, and poets. There are lots of souvenir shops, cafes, and restaurants here.

An art museum named after A.S. Pushkin is the home of one of the biggest collections of works of foreign art in Russia. The State Tretyakov Gallery exposes the collection of the best works of Russian art of all times – from ancient masterpieces to the works created by modern artists – all inside one museum.

The all-Russian Exhibition Center occupies the area of 136 hectares. The emblem of the center is a grandiose sculptural group depicting a tractor driver and a farm woman raising a golden sheaf of wheat stalks high above their heads. The Center’s infrastructure is perfect for exhibitions, fairs, festivals, art fests, and all sorts of different shows.

Moscow is not only the cultural capital of the country; it also is the main business and administrative center of Russia. All Russian government bodies are located here: the administration of the President, State Duma, ministries, embassies. and consulates of foreign countries. Head offices of the state’s major industrial companies are also located in Moscow.

Nowadays, Moscow and the Moscow region is the site of active industrial development. New plants are being built there and people from all over the country are moving to the Moscow region attracted by high salaries. It’s a perfect place for making a career. Not a long time ago, specialists used to go to the North to Siberia and the Far East in order to make money. Now they are heading to Moscow.