Description

Tour Highlights:

• Flash back to the times of the Tsars;
• Take in the Kremlin walls;
• Explore the Kremlin cathedrals;
• Adnire the magnificent Christ the Savior Cathedral;
• Take in the Kremlin views from the Patriarch bridge.

Itinerary

Red Square Tour

Our first stop is named "Beautiful". Or Red. Red meant "beautiful" in the old times, so prepare your camera for stunning views and plenty of excellent photo ops. 

• - Walk through the Resurrection (or Iberian) Gate and don't forget to flip a coin to make sure you come back one day. Keep in mind, almost everyone wants ot come back, so... you know what to expect;
• - Visit the lovaly Kazan Cathedral and listen to its story of magic transformations during the Soviet time;
• - Shop in the glamorous GUM, once the Upper Trading Stalls, the girst mega store of Moscow which was built over 120 years ago and still operating!
• - Admire the stunning St. Basil's Cathedral from all sides and go around it as many times as your legs can carry you, no rush. Built to mark the capture of the cities of Kazan and Astrakhan. After construction of the cathedral, the poor architect was blinded by Ivan the Terrible. Guess why? (Hint: the cathedral is really beautiful);
• - Beware of Lobnoye Mesto (or "Place of the Skulls"). You may want to stay away form this place, otherwise the spirit of Ivan the Terrible may haunt you. Lobnoe Mesto used to be Ivan the Terrible's stage for religious ceremonies, speeches, and important events. Rumour has it people were beheaded on this spot. 

Kremlin Tour

With dual cultural and historical status, the Kremlin is simply gorgeous.

• - The Cathedral of Twelve Apostles nowadays functions as the grand entrance to the luxurious Grand Kremlin Palace;
• - The Tsar Bell, the largest bell in the world, and Tsar Cannon, the largest cannon by caliber in the world. You will fillyour camera in no time with these two;
• - The Ivan the Great Bell Tower symbolically represents the exact centre of Moscow city and resembles a burning candle (just the right shape considering the location);
• - The Cathedral of the Assumption, 5 pillars and 5 domes of awesome. It was the traditional place of coronation of the grand princes and tsars as well as the burial place of metropolitans and patriarchs. A perfect blend of Italian Renaiisance and Russian traditions;
• - The Cathedral of the Annunciation, the private church of Russian grand princes and tsars for domestic and family ceremonies;
• - The Cathedral of the Archangel, the necropolis of the Moscow dynasty of Ruriks and first Romanov tsars. The history of the necropolis started in 1340 with Ivan I, who was (of course, you already guessed) the great grandfather of Ivan the Terrible;
• - The Armory originated as the royal arsenal in 1508 and boasting the richest collection of the works of Russian and foreign decorative and applied art of 4th-20th centuries;

+ The procession of the pedestrian and equestrian guards of the President's regiment (only April thru October).

Fun Facts about Red Square and Kremlin from our tours

• Red Suare appeared thanks to the... fire. The ffire at the end of the 15th century destroyed all the buildings. After the fire it was decided not to build up the territory. Thus was formed Red Square.
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• Assumption Cathedral (located in the Kremlin) is the oldest survived building in Moscow (built in 1474-1479).
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• It is widely believed that the Lobnoe Mesto (Place of Skulls or Place of Execution) was intended for executions. Executions were indeed carried out here, but very rarely, because it was considered a sacred place. More often, it was a place for royal decrees.
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• After the casting, the Tsar Cannon was initially installed on Red Square near the Lobnoe Mesto and was intended for the defense of the Kremlin. However, it never took part in any wars.
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• Tsar Bell lay in the pit for about 100 years.
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• During the creation of the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, the models for the sculptor were his own sons.
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• Initially the monument to Minin and Pozharsky was located in the center of Red Square in front of the GUM. In 1931, it was moved closer to St. Basil's Cathedral.
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• Moscow Kremlin towers were decorated with two-headed eagles for several hundred years since the XVII century. In 1935 it was decided to replace them with five-pointed stars.
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• Kazan Cathedral (the one at the intersection of Red Square and the streets of St. Nicholas) was blown up during the Soviet era (1936). In 1990-1993 it completely recreated.
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• In 30-ies of XX century it was planned to demolish the GUM. In its place was planned to construct a building for the People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry.
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• In the period from 1953 to 1961 the Lenin mausoleum was also a place for the body of Joseph Stalin.
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• In May 1987, the pilot-athlete from Germany made an unauthorized flight from Helskinki to Moscow and landed on Red Square.
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• In 2005, near the walls of the Kremlin in Nizhny Novgorod town was installed a replica of the Moscow monument to Minin and Pozharsky, but 5cm less.
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• The architectural ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A

More fun facts about Kremlin.