Moscow city tour BY CAR (4 hours)

Red Square

• The main Square of the Russian Federation, UNESCO protected

• Why is it called red?

• What function has the square had for many years?

• What is the oldest and the youngest building in the square?

• Who was St. Basil and why is the most colourful cathedral in Moscow named in his honour?

The Kremlin

• What does the word “Kremlin” mean?

• How big is the Kremlin and does anyone live in it now?

• Why did the fortress appear  in that part of the town?

St. Basil᾿s cathedral

• Outside, if inside see notes below

• UNESCO protected

• Built by the order of Ivan the Terrible as thanking God for a great victory. Which one?

• Why is it also called Intercession cathedral?

• Why is it so decorative?

Gum Department Store

• Who sponsored the construction work of this sumptuous building in the late 19th century?

• Has anybody ever lived in GUM?

• What is inside GUM now?

Tverskaya Street

• The main street of Moscow known from the 12th century.

• Moscow mayor᾿s office and the monument to the founder of Moscow

• How was it possible to move the buildings in the street?

• What is the connection between red granite foundations of some buildings at Tverskaya Street and Hitler?

The Bolshoy theatre

• The main opera and ballet stage in Russia

• What does the word ‘Bolshoi’ mean?

• What is the meaning of the statue of Apollo with horses?

The building of former KGB

• One very famous soviet joke says that the building it so tall that it is possible to see Siberia from there.

• When and why was the institution later called KGB created?

• What monument used to stand in front of it and when did it disappear?

St. Barbara street and Zaryadye park

• The house where the first tsar from the Romanovs was born is still in St. Barbara street

• The first English embassy is also located there

• Zaryadye park with its amazing floating bridge were open to visitors in September 2017.

St. Sofia᾿s embankment

• The best view on the Kremlin and its golden-domed cathedrals

• Where is possible to see Neglinnaya river which was enclosed in a tube 200 year ago and is now under the ground?

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior

• The main cathedral of Russia (inside)

• Where was the biggest open air swimming pool located in Moscow until 1990?

• Where did Soviet Authorities decide to erect a 400 meter-tall palace of Soviets?

• Why was the original Cathedral of Christ the Savior built and destoryed?

New Maiden (Novodevichy) Convent (outside)

• UNESCO protected.

• What is the connection between Napoleon Bonaparte and this convent?

• Why would daughters and sisters of the tsar have to take the veil?

• What was the way to treat the ‘unwanted wives’ in royal families, given that there were no divorces?

The football stadium “Luzhniki”

• The place of holding of summer Olympic games in 1980

• The place of holding of final games of FIFA World Cup in 2018

• What does the word “Luzhniki” mean?

• This was the place of holding of the Final game of UEFA Champions League between Chelsea and Manchester in 2008.

Moscow State University

• The most beautiful of the so-called ‘7 sisters’, high-rising building, erected by the order of Stalin at the beginning of 1950s.

• Does anyone live in the main building of the University?

• Has anyone ever climbed up to the star on the spire?

Sparrow hills

• Panoramic view of Moscow

• See some of the 7 sisters, Moscow of the 21st century, 2 TV towers and many other sights from this ‘balcony of the whole city’

“Mosfilm” film studio

• ‘Moscow Hollywood’

• It has 4 Oscar awards