Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum in Moscow | Russia #6

This is the Red Square in Moscow, one of the most iconic places in the world.

Panoramic View on Moscow Red Square Kremlin Towers Clock Kuranti, Saint Basil’s Cathedral Church

Being here you remember the history classes:

Lenin, socialism, Cold War…

Today it’s packed with tourists.

State Historical Museum on Red Square in Moscow, Russia

A lot of people think that the name “Red” is because of the predominant color here or that it’s associated with socialism.

Actually, not really. This square has been here for centuries.

In Russian it’s called Krásnaya and it means both red and beautiful.

St. Basil’s Cathedral on Red Square

To see everything here at the Red Square you need more than a day.

I’ll focus on the main attractions like the Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum,St. Basil’s Cathedral and the GUM.

Let’s start with Lenin’s Mausoleum as it’s only open in the morning.

The Crowd of Tourists Wishing to Visit of the Lenin’s Mausoleum

The queue is enormous, there is no escape. But if you’re thinking I’m going to see his tomb,No! His preserved body has been in public display basically since his death in 1924.

It’s like a visitation.

Lenin’s Mausoleum, iconic resting place of Vladimir Lenin in the center of Red Square

That is so unique, you fell like he has just passed, you know, the atmosphere there… You have to experience it to understand because you can not take pictures. You can only get in, keep walking and go.

Other Soviet leaders and personalities are also buried here like Stalin and Yuri Gagarin, the first ever man in space.

Now, the Kremlin itself.

On your way to the entrance of the Kremlin you walk by this place here.

This is a war memorial – the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – dedicated to the millions of Soviets who died during World War II. 27 million Soviets more precisely.

Today, it’s a tradition here in Moscow for brides and grooms to come and pay their respects on their wedding day.

That was the change of the guard, it happens every hour.

Alexander Gardens, Moscow Kremlin

The Kremlin itself is a fortress with five palaces, numerous cathedrals, towers.

It was the residency of the Russian Tsars and today it’s the official residency of the president of Russia.

This place is enormous but that doesn’t mean you can just go on your own and explore everything, there are the areas for tourists.

Ancient Kremlin in Rostov Veliky

Look at this place, how amazing! Four churches and cathedrals in one single square. Each one with a different purpose.

This is also the one with the biggest queue, so here is my tip: get here and go directly there.

This place is actually a necropolis, several of grand princes and tsars from Russia between the 1300s and the 1700s are buried there including Ivan the Terrible.

He was a very important Tsar and very important political figure historically and he made several changes, important changes actually, politically, administratively, and in the military.

A Monument to Ivan the Terrible

These cathedrals don’t offer services anymore. Today they are more like museums, extremely beautiful. Now, the bad part: you can’t take pictures anywhere inside, they offer here these pamphlets so that at least you can understand what you are seeing then.

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower

They guide you through the various icons, the importance of the icons, their locations and so on.

This basic ticket gives you access to the Kremlin itself and also the cathedrals, but there are museums here too that you can buy additional tickets, like the Armoury and the Diamond Fund, extremely beautiful and worth it, very impressive.

Distinctive Architecture of Gold-domed Cathedral of the Annunciation and Green-roofed Armoury Building Which Houses One of the Oldest Museums

I’ve been to both in my first trip here to Moscow some ten years ago, so I’m skipping them today. The word “Kremlin”means “fortress inside a city”.

View of the Largest Bell in the World – the Tsar Bell in Moscow

This bell is the largest in the world, it broke during metal casting and has never worked.

Such an amazing history of the Russian monarchy, then very representative of the Soviet Union.

Shopping Center “Okhotny Ryad”

On or around the Red Square there are several options for restaurants and cafes. Where you can find the biggest variety and reasonable prices is in this mall here.