Elizarov's Museum-Apartment.Two reasons to visit. First, it is the typical apartment of Russian intelligentsia in the beginning of 20th century with all the furniture and interior safe. Second, there are many items devoted to the life of Lenin.
Address: Shirokaya (Ul., #52. Directions: metro Petrogradskaya. Walk along Bolshoi prospekt to the direction on Neva river and make a right turn on the 7th street (this is Shirokaya Ul.). Phone: (812) 235-3778. Opened: 10.00 - 18.00, closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Literature Museums

Pushkin's Museum. Pushkin is the famous Russian poet of the 18th century, perhaps as importand for Russia as Sheakspeare is important for Great Britain. I don't like such kind of a museums: some items belonged to the master, room, where he died... It is far more interesting to read his poetry, than visiting this place.
Address: Naberezhnaya (embankment) Reki Moyki, #12. Directions: Nevsky Prospekt metro, walk along Moika river to the direction of St. Isaac Cathedral. Phone: (812) 314-0007. Opened: 11.00 - 17.00, closed on Tuesdays and on the last Fridays of every month.


Dostoevsky's House. The house of Dostoevski, the one who wrote "The Crime and Punishment".
Address: Kuznechniy pereulok, # 5/2. Metro: Dostoevskaya. Phone: (812) 311-4031. Opened: 11.00 - 17.30, closed on Mondays and on the last Wednesdays of every month.


Nabokov's House. The building, where Vladimir Nabokov was born in the 1899 have little to do with his the actual house and belongings of the famous writer. It mostly hosts thematic exhibition, forums and talks.
Address: Bolshaya Morskaya , #47. Directions: Nevsky Prospekt metro, the next street (to the direction of Neva river) on the left after Moika river. Phone: (812) 315-4713. Opened: 11.00 - 18.00, closed on Fridays and Saturdays.


Military Museums in St. PetersburgMuseum of Artillery, Engineer and Signal Troops. It is the world's largest military museum, situated in the building of the former Arsenal. Huge collection of military banners and uniforms.
Address: Alexandrovsky park , #7. Metro: Gorkovskaya. Phone: (812) 238-4704. Opened: 11.00 - 17.00, closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and last Thursdays of the month.


Avrora Cruiser. The real cruiser ("kreser" in Russian) from the beginning of the 20th century is a museum now. Avrora participated in the war with Japan, but it is famous for the activities during the October Revolution. The only fire during the revolution from the cannons of this ship was a signal to begin the storm of the emperor's palace. This was enough to make the cruiser one of the most loved sight of the communists. Now the exposition devoted to the Revolution is not so popular, but it is great to be on the board of the real cruiser.
Address: Avrora kreiser, Petrogradskaya nab. Directions: Gorkovskaya or Ploshchad Lenina metros. Phone: 230-8440. Open: 10.30 - 16.00, closed on Mondays and Fridays. Entrance: free.


Suvorov's Museum. Suvorov is considered to be the best Russian military leader. He defeated Austria, Turkey and France. He managed to cross the Italian Alps with his army without proper roads. He was military genius. Exposition: personal things of Suvorov and war-related items.
Address: Kirochnaya ul., #43. Directions: metro Chernyshevskaya , walk to the direction of Tavricheski gardens, the museum is in front of the gardens on your right. Phone: (812) 279-3914. Opened: mon: 10.00 - 16.15, tue and fri: 10.00 - 17.15; sat and sun: 10.00 - 18.15, closed on Thuesdays, Wendesdays and every last Monday of the month.

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THE RUSSIAN MUSEUM (Русский Музей). It was opened in 1898 in the Mikhaylovsky Palace. The exposition is devoted to Russian art from icons to the paintings of 20th century. There has been unofficial competition between Russian Museum and Tretyakov's Gallery in Moscow for the title of the Best Russian Art museum. Both are great, and it is hard to choose. So you can do that by yourself, and if you visit both museums you will be a specialist in Russian art.
Address: Inzhenernaya (Инженерная) Ul., # 4. Directions: Nevsky Prospect (Невский Проспект) metro station, walk along Griboedova (Грибоедова) channel to the direction of Church of the Bleeding Saviourand make a right turn next to Mikhailovski Garden (Михайловский Сад). Phone: 318-1608. Open: 10.00-17.00, mon 10.00-16.00, closed on Tuesday. Internet: http://www.rusmuseum.ru/
THE MARBLE PALACE (Мраморный Дворец). A part of Russian museum. Great building, decorated with 32 kinds of marble. It was built like a present from empress Ekaterina II to her lover count Orlov. The exhibitions are not very interesting but the building exterior and interior worth to look at.
Address: Millionnaya (Миллионная) Ul., #5/11. Metro: Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky Prospect. Phone: 312-9196. Open: 10.00 - 17.00, mon 10.00-16.00, closed on Tuesdays


st.petersburg / contemporary art galleries

Cultural center УPushkinskaya 10Ф ("Пушкинская, 10").
Home to well known society Уfree cultureФ, contemporary artists, musicians, independent theaters, writers and others. It's existed since 1990, continuing and developing the activity of non-conformists of 70-s and 80-s. The members are independent representatives of St. Petersburg contemporary art.
"Pushkinskaya, 10" is a pleasant, cosy place in the centrum (just next to Moscovski railway station). The walls in the yard and inside the building are covered with graffiti, posters, flyers, schedules of concerts, so that you’ll find the right way there without any problems.
Most of the galleries / exhibitions are opened from 4pm to 8pm, some are opened only on tuesdays, thursdays and saturdays.

Here's what you can find behind the doors of Pushkinskaya, 10:
• The museum of non-conformist art –– collection of non-conformist art, sometimes hosts debates about the art scene.
• Pushkinskaya observatory –– hosts art debates, gives young artists the opportunity to exhibit
• The Gallery of Experimental Sound (GEZ-21)
• The Factory of Found Clothing / The Shop of Traveling Things
• Navicula Artis gallery –– exhibitions of Russian and foreign contemporary artists, art debates, lectures.
• Art-Poligon –– the experimental exhibition space
• The St.Petersburg Archive and Library of Independent Art
• John Lennon's Temple
• Baza –– the shop where they sell vinyl, cds with dance, alternative and experimental music.
• FOTOImage –– collection of contemporary photography is said to be the only one in St.Petersburg, opened to the public.
• Russian Poesy Fund –– founded in 1993 with the initiative of Iosef Brodsky. Charity evening, poet readings, contemporary art exhibitions.
• FishFabrique Club –– From the 1994 FishFabrique (also called УFishkaФ by St.Petersburgers) has been one of the most popular clubs in St. Petersburg and one of the best. It was the first club with alternative music. Since that time almost every St.Petersburg band has played here. Fishfabrique is a favorite place for local alternative musicians and cult artists. Design of the club, that was made by well known group of artists УRechnikiФ and УACHEФ is also worth seeing. Table hockey, cheap bar.
Music: alternative, ska (nofx!), punk, jazz, all spb bands and guests (УCleaning womenФ from Finland and more). Live concerts start at 9 pm from tuesday to saturday. Entrance is about 50 roubles ($1.75 US).
Sundays: movies from УFestival of FestivalsФ collection (St.Pete independent cinema event). Monday - just fun, free entrance.
Address: Ligovsky (Лиговский) prospect, #53 or Pushkinskaya (Пушкинская) ul., #10. Location: Just next to Moskovski railway station or Oktyabrskaya hotel. Directions: УPloshad vosstanyaФ (Площадь Восстания) metro station or Moskovski vokzal - Московский вокзал (railway station where the trains from Moscow and Novgorod arrive) , walk down Ligovski (Лиговский) prospekt, so that Moskovski railway station is on the left. The entrance to the club will be on the right side of the street, or on the crossroads of Ligovski and Pushkinskaya (Пушкинская), the entrance is from Ligovski prospekt side. Internet: http://www.pushkinskaja-10.spb.ru/

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Introduction to Moscow and City's Highlights




Moscow, being the capital of one-sixth of the world with about 10 million inhabitants is supposed to be something impressive and it is. One of the first impressions Moscow gives is the one of a chaotic city with large busy avenues, jammed traffic, speedy life, glintering ads. At the same time you see calm grey residential areas, hidden little churches with golden domes and church music in the centrum, monumental Stalin's buildings. Unlikely contrasts are everywhere: fancy shops on Tverskaya street neighbour nearly falling apart concrete buildings of run-down Soviet hotels and government buildings; hip crowds wearing the latest design clothes sipping cocktails in a state-of-the-art cafes and rugged tired people with solemn and unhappy faces carrying the burden of existence in this new 'democratic' world, where everybody depends on oneself (what a change from the Soviet times).
As everywhere in Russia it's like a mix of two worlds: Europe and Asia, democracy and communism, joy and grief, prosperity and poverty. Moscow could be just another capital, but it isn't. Rather, the city is an exaggerated version of everything you can get in Russia, as if conforming the quality of Russian character to take everything to extremes.

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Orientation. The main historical core of Moscow is Kremlin (a fortress - on photo), which is located in the core of the city. Tverskaya street, which is the main
avenue of the city, starts from the Kremlin and heads north to become Leningradskoye Shosse, which leads directly to St. Petersburg (750km).
Moscow has a radial structure, and the Garden Ring road defines the center of the city. A smaller Boulevard Ring defines the city's downtown.
To be able to find the right building on any street, it's useful to know that in Moscow house numbering starts from the center. Also, the odd-number houses are located to the left, and the even-number houses - to the right. So, if you're looking for Tverskaya st., #2, for example, it will be located very close to the Kremlin (which is the most central place in Moscow), on your right-hand side (if you turn your back to the Kremlin).


Climate in Moscow. Moscow is located in the middle of the continent, so the temperature is contintal, which means hot weather in Summer and cold weather in Winter.
The hottest months are July and August, when the temperatures can reach +30-35 celcius. They are followed by mild September, which turns into Indian Summer - the last warm days of the year usually in the end of the month. October sees the Autumn starting and the temperatures can go down to

zero by the end of the month. The first snow usually appears in the middle of November, but the most snowy months are January and February. February is also the coldest month, when the temperatures often go down to minus 15 celcius. March is when the Spring comes, and the temperatures rise back to zero and it becomes quite warm by the end of April only (10-15 celcius). The snow leaves some time in the end of March. The end of April sees an abrupt change to warm and sunny weather, and in the beginning of May it can already be +20. May is actually the most comfortable month, as there are not many rains and the temperature stays around +20.

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Brief History of Moscow in Dates




1147 - The first mention in the Historical Chronicles is made about the city of Moscow, which was founded by Russian prince Yury Dolgoruky.
Eight centuries ago there were some successful negotiations finished and guys just wanted to make a feast at some place to celebrate it. So they just looked for some place to eat and the nearest place was a small town - Moscow, that's how and why it was first mentioned
1328 - Moscow became the capital city of the Great Moscow Principality and of all Russian Lands.
Moscow's Princes bought many others Principalities, those princes who didn't want to sell theirs were killed - the way politics was usually made that time.
1612 - A people volunteers' corps under the commandment of Minin and Pozharsky liberated Moscow from the Polish invaders.
That's important -- we have a monument in their honor in the Red Square, so now you know who is who (Pozharsky is sitting, Minin is standing, because Pozharsky was a prince). Minin was a rich merchant in Nigniy Novgorod and when Polish occupied Moscow his business was almost ruined, so he collected some money and paid it to the famous general Pozaharsky, who gathered the army and liberated Moscow. Even then business made the politics.
1672 - Peter I, All - Russian Emperor, was born in the suburbs of the city (I do not like him because of the next date)
1713 - Under the reign of Peter I the capital city of Russia was moved from Moscow to Petersburg
1755 - The first Russian university called Moscow University (MSU now) was founded.
It is the oldest university in Russia, and the education there is great. If somebody is from MSU - he is very smart (guess where I'm studying).
1812 - The Patriotic War with Napoleon. Big fires in Moscow. During that fire almost all the buildings were destroyed and few ancient buildings keep intact.
What's interesting we do not know who set the fire: Russian historians say - French army did, and French historians say - Russian patriots did.
1872 - The first horse-drawn tram line called "Konka" along the Tverskaya Street was put into service
1918 - On the 12th of March the city of Moscow became the capital of the Soviet Russia . Communists were afraid to stay in St.Petersburg which was closer to the borders.
1935 - The first line of Moscow Metro was opened and put into operation. Moscow metro is very deep; they wanted it to be an air-shelter. In the Chistie-prudi station ( Чистые пруды) there was a special Stalin's shelter.
1939 - The commencement of regular TV transmissions
1941 - Defeat of the German forces in the battle of Moscow
1980 - Organization and carrying out of the XXII Olympic Games. It was a great perfomance of Soviet Union. They wanted to show to the world that Soviet system is the best. Especially for the Games government for the first time produced beer in the aluminum cans (they stopped producing it after the games), pushed out of Moscow all the prostitutes, and only those people who were loyal to the soviet system were allowed to communicate with foreigners.
1991 - In august 21 there was a small revolution set in Moscow. The government was changed and there had been tanks for several days in the centrum of Moscow. At this time the Soviet Union was over, but it was a strange time for some period. Also a little earlier there were the first democratic mayor elections in Moscow. 1991 was the beginning of the Democracy, people were excited, waiting for changes, but it turned out to be hard process.
1997 - National holiday - 850th Anniversary of Moscow.
It was a great holiday. Central part was overcrowded, people were drunk and one out of every two was a policeman.

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THE KREMLIN. The Kremlin is the stronghold of Moscow and its historical center. Most of the city had been inside the Kremlin walls until the 16th century. Afterwards, the Kremlin became the official Tsars residence with just several most powerful nobles and a head of the Orthodox church, who lived inside. Italian architects built the present Kremlin fortifications at the end of the 15th century. Moscow Kremlin fortress was one of the most fortified in Europe, even more than the ones in Milan and Krakow. The red brick walls with 20 towers were never captured by the enemies.
'Kremlin' doesn't only mean 'fortifications'; this term is used to describe the whole area of the city inside the Kremlin walls. There are three main ancient Moscow cathedrals inside: Arhangelskiy (Archangel cathedral), Uspenskiy (Assumption cathedral), Blagoveshenskiy (Annunciation cathedral) – open for the visitors.
Also, there is Palace of the President inside the Kremlin - a 19th century white and yellow classical palace, it's closed for visitors.
There's an old, Russian style Tsars palace, Russian style Palace of the Patriarch (the head of Russian church), Armory museum. There are also Tsar-cannon (huge cannon), and Tsar-bell (huge bell), which are standing outside.
Nowadays Kremlin palace is an official residence of the President of Russian Federation. So, you can visit just part of the Kremlin territory. To visit it you should buy ticket in the ticket office which is in the Alexander's Garden, western side of the Kremlin.


YURY DOLGORUKY MONUMENT. If you walk up from the Kremlin along Tverskaya street, on your left you'll see an ordinary equestrian statue devoted to the founder of Moscow - prince Yury Dolgoruky, was built in the 1954, to celebrate Moscow's 800th anniversary. There are no pictures of this prince, so the architect just made a statue of a typical mid century Russian knight.


MOSCOW TOWN HALL. Just in front of the monument to Yury Dolgoruky there is Moscow Townhall. The first palace was build here in 1782. It was general Chernichev, who built palace for himself. Later this building was bought by the Empire to install the official residence of Moscow Governors there. All the governors of Moscow lived in this palace, so it was known as the Palace of the Governor.
After the 1917 revolution Moscow Soviet Government installed there. So this building was called "MosSoviet". When Tverskaya street was rebuildt, the building of MosSoviet was moved about 14 meters back (to widen Tverskaya street) and two more floors were added on the top. Nowadays, the administration of the Moscow mayor is working there.


PUSHKIN MONUMENT. Pushkin is considered to be the best Russian poet. So, there is Pushkinskaya square in Moscow where the monument to Pushkin is installed. It's on the opposite side from McDonalds. The monument was built in 1880. The money for the monument were donated by the thousands of Russians who participated in subscription. It was the first monument to a poet in Russia.


THE ENGLISH CLUB (Museum of Contemporary History of Russia). This red and white classical palace was built in 1780. When Napoleon captured Moscow in 1812, most of the city was completely destroyed by fires. This building burnt also. The palace was rebuilt in the same year. This empire style palace was one of the best buildings in the city. For dozen of years several nobles owned it, until a group of the richest foreigners (who lived in Moscow then) bought it.
They organized an English club in it, a place where they could rest and speak their native language. Later, The English Club became popular among Russian nobles. From the end of 19th century the English club members were only high-born nobles.
After the revolution tje communists placed here "the museum of revolution". Nowadays, it is "the museum of present history of Russia".
Open: tue-sat 10-18.00, sun 10.00-16.30

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BELORUSSKI RAILWAY STATION. This station was built in 1909, and is considered to be one of the nicest Moscow railway stations (there are 9 in all). In 1945 the trains with Russian army, which captured Berlin, arrived to this station. Nowadays most of the trains to Europe departs from Belorussky station.
moscow / east centrum / kuznetski most area
& kitai gorod

TEATRALNAYA SQUARE. One of the main Moscow squares. It is called 'Teatralnaya' after the two theatres that are on this square: Bolshoy and Maly theatres. There are several sights in this square:

BOLSHOY THEATER. Bolshoy means big, so this is a big theatre. Built in 1824, this theatre was the second biggest theater in the world after Milano's "La Scala". Besides, it is one of the best opera theaters in the world. It is hard to buy ticket, but if you manage to do this, you will like the show.

MALY THEATER. It was built in the same year as Bolshoy. If there is a "big" theatre on the square, the other theatre will be "small"; it happens they built second theatre and called it "Maliy", which means "small". This dramatic theatre was very important for Russian culture - the best artists and editors preformed there in the best Russian plays. There is a monument in front of Maly theater to Ostrovsky - Russian play writer of the 19th century.

THE RED SQUARE is a large square next to the Kremlin, there's Lenin's mausoleum. In middle ages this square used to be the main place in Russia, that has witnessed many events: from coronations of Russia's Tsars, to enemies' attacks. Also it was the main trading place in Moscow, and the place where the Tsars' were addressing the people. In the Soviet times, it was the place where the Soviet government would address the people, and where Soviet military was showing its strength and power at the Victory Day's parades. Now it is on of the main attractions in Moscow.
In the middle of the Red square there's St. Basils Cathedral, which is the world known Russian architecture masterpiece. When it was built in 1561 to celebrate Russian victory over Kazan kingdom it was called Pokrovsky cathedral. Later it was renamed after a saint who was close to Ivan the Terrible tsar - Basil (hence - St.Basil).
St Basils was and still is an unusual cathedral: the architects built 8 small churches around the main dome and made the paths from one church to another. Every church is devoted to a separate saint. The cathedral was being rebuilt over and over, so what you see now is in fact about 200 years old. It's really strange how such a chaotic mix of architecture and colors can look so beautiful, but it does.
.

MININ AND POZHARSKI MONUMENT.Built in 1818 this monument is devoted to the citizen Minin and the prince Pozharsky, who were the leaders of patriotic war against Polish invaders in 1612.


SPASSKAYA TOWER. The main tower of the Kremlin (just near the St. Basis cathedral) with chimes on it.

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LENIN'S MAUSOLEUM. The Mausoleum was built in 1930 to put Lenin's dead body inside (you know, like they did in Egypt). The body lies in there, but few people, tourists mostly, visit it and there are talks that Lenin will be buried soon. Also, there's a story that under the mausoleum there's a hidden underground railway, that'll evacuate the body of Bolsheviks' leader in case there's nuclear war or something.
Open: 9.30-13.00 tue-sun. Cover: 0 to 100 R
MUSEUM OF HISTORY. Built in 1881, this is one of the biggest museums in Russia. The architects wanted the building to symbolize all the best from Russian traditional architecture.


The GUM. Just in front of the Kremlin walls, there is a long building of GUM. Gum is a short for a State Department Store. Actually built as a store in 1893 this building was called Upper Trade Rows. It was the biggest store in Russia before the revolution, and the most popular after.


FORMER KGB.The former KGB buildings (now - FSB) will be just in front of you if you come to the Lubyankaya square from the Red Square. The main building is grey and brown Stalin's style building. There's no more KGB, it was renamed in FSB (Federal Secure Service). So, there are headquarters of FSB inside this building nowadays. Some people say there's a special prison under one of the buildings.


POLITECHNICAL MUSEUM. On the south-east side of the square there is a huge building of Politechnical museum. It was built for about 30 years, from 1874 in old Russian style. There were many expositions and free lectures took part in it. So it was a kind of institute for poor people.


MONUMENT TO SOLDIERS. If you walk along the Politechnical museum from Lubyanka square you will come to the small square with unusual belllike building in the center of it. This is a church-monument to the soldiers who died in Russian-Turkey war in Bulgaria.
This place is popular among Moscow gays, it's one of the meeting places.


moscow / west centrum / arbat area

THE CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOR. Is the main church in Moscow. Opened in 1883, in a memory of Russian victory over Napoleon in 1812, this building was the biggest cathedral in Russia. But communists didn't like it and planned to build a Palace of the Soviets on it's place. So the Cathedral was destroyed. Meanwhile, communists couldn't manage to build the Palace so they place an open swimming pool there.
Nowadays, Moscow Mayer decided to rebuild the Cathedral. He spent fortune to build Cathedral again.


THE WHITE HOUSE. Russian white house is a house of the government. It is ordinary office building built in 1981.


moscow / south centrum / zamoskvorechie

PETER THE GREAT MONUMENT.Built in the middle of 90th this monument arised strong discourses in Moscow. People do not like this monument saying it is ugly and pretensious. Moscow government defends it, because the architect of the monument is a close friend of the Mayor.

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moscow / historical museums THE KREMLIN (Кремль-Kreml) is a former palace of kings. Originally the walls around the Kremlin (fortress) were first elevated in the 10th century and were made of wood. In the 13th century brick walls were added. The modern Kremlin, as it is now, was built in the 16th century and it was the second powerful castle in Europe after the one in Milan. Also, in the 16th century most of the decoration works were made, and the four famous cathedrals inside the Kremlin were built in this period.
Nowadays it is where the president of Russia works. There are many nice cathedrals, some museums, and historical monuments inside. The most interesting museums are the Museum of the Ancient Weapons (Оружейная Палата-Oruzheinay Palata) with a huge collection of mid-centuries weapons and the Museum of Jewelry Collection (Алмазный Фонд-Almasniy Fond) with a splendid collection of various gems.
Also, there's a parliament hall built in the 20th century. It was supposed to be a high building, but the architects decided not to spoil the view of the Kremlin, so they built this parliament hall deep underground (like 8 or 10 stores).
Another fact is that there's a secret metro line that leads from the Kremlin to the outside of Moscow, to evacuate the president in case there are problems.
If you are not interested in history and architecture you can just look at the cathedrals and the castles of the Kremlin from the outside.
Address: Kremlin. tel. 203-0349 (excursions). Area: Kremlin, metro Alexandrovski Sad (light blue), Ohotny Ryad (red), Biblioteka imeni Lenina (red). Open: mon-wed, fri-sun: 10:00-17:00. Tickets: foreign students 100 rubbles ($3.5), foreigners 200 rubbles ($7).


LENIN'S MAUSOLEUM (Мавзолей-Mavzoley). A cult place in the middle of the Red Square, near the Kremlin. Inside there is the tiny man, the guru of the communists, lying in a glass coffin - they say that in case of a nuclear attack, the coffin will go underground and slide on the rails somewhere far far away.
When you are outside after all, it's nice to feel yourself alive.
Advice from Ben Parke (September 2004): The [...] tip I have is that in Moscow, to enter Red square and Lenins Mausoleum outside both queuing/ticket areas, there are lots of guides that tell you that because of security after recent terrorist incidents, that it is only allowed to enter the Kremlin on Lenins mausoleum with a tour guide. I was not convinced and found out that in the case of the Kremlin, it is only necessary to get an audio guide and lenins mausoleum is free and can be visited alone. I saw a lot of people get scammed by these guides and pay 800 roubles when the cost I paid was much much less. Maybe you can pass this warning on to avoid tourists getting tricked.
Address: Красная площадь (Krasnaya Ploshad - Red Square), Area: Kremlin, metro Ohotniy Ryad (red), Ploshad Revolutsii (blue). Open: tue.-thu., sat. 10.00-13.00


MUSEUM OF HISTORY (Исторический Музей-Istoricheski museum). Everything you need to know about the history of Russia: objects, documents, paintings, photos. They have a rich collection of prehistorical objects, for example there are carved stone tools, hunting spears, female statuettes, huge earth pots from 3000 years before our era... and a long wooden boat, mammoth corns, human squeletons and ornaments. As you go round the museum you see also Iron, and Bronze Age objects : warrior armour suits, ornated implements, obects of cult.
Upstairs they have at the moment a more contemporary exhibition called 'Our Happy Childhood'showing toys, books, paintings and black and white films about childhood in the soviet times under Lenin and Stalin. Teaches much. until 2 April 2002.
Also, there's a souvenir shop inside and a traditional restaurant serving Russian food.
Address: Krasnaya Ploshad (Red Square) #1/2, tel. 292-4019 Area: Kremlin, metro Ploshad Revolutsii (blue), Teatralnaya (green). Open: wed-mon 11.00-19.00 except 1st monday of month.

THE MODERN HISTORY OF RUSSIA MUSEUM (Музей современной истории России). The former museum of Revolution. Located in the palace this museum is very nice outside, but a bit crappy inside. The permanent collection dedicated to the 20th century in Russia. There are interesting temporary ehibitions from time to time.
Address: Tverskaya ul., 21, tel.: 299-6724. Area: metro Pushkinskaya (viloet). Open: tu.-sat 10.00-18.00, sun 10.00-16.30

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moscow / literature museums EX LIBRIS. The museum of the ex libris is not very popular, but if you are interested in books and ex libris - which are special collectioneers' stamps on books - it is a good place to find out more.
Address: Пушечная (Pushechnaya) #7/5, tel. 928-2998. Area: Kuznetski Most, metro Kuznetski most (violet) or Lubyanka (red). Open: mon-fri 10.00-17.30. Free entrance.


moscow / science museums

MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF COSMONAUTICS (MMK-- Mемориальный музей Космонавтики - Memorialni Musei Kocmonavtiki) The museum is very stylish, with colour lamps and a cosmic structure welcoming you. You can see real cosmonaut's equipments, like Yuri Gagarin's orange training suit and the spheric vessel, in which he re-entered on Earth after his 108 minutes orbit trip around the Earth in the first sattelite in 1961.There are several 'first' spacecrafts which were used to explore the Moon: the UFO like spacecraft Luna 3, which orbited the moon and made the first photos of the 'invisible' side of the Moon in 1959. The round red Luna 16, which was the first spacecraft to make a Return trip Earth-Moon-Earth and carried back Moon soil samples in 1970. And You can see video documents of trainings of cosmonauts and recordings on board. There's a great cinema hall all decorated with metallic walls moulded like cells, where one can lay back and enjoy a slide show, rhythmed by cosmic-ambient music. It almost brings tears, because of the hint of no