Выполнила ученица 10 класса Литвинова Инна

Moscow, the capital of Russia is located on the river Moskva in the western region of Russia. The real flavor of Moscow is situated in all the small nooks and crannies on every street. Russian contrasts are more present here than in any other city in Russia. Ancient monasteries and ultra-modern monoliths stand side by side and the new Russian millionaires and the poor pensioners walk side by side in the same streets. Moscow's streets are lined with small monolithic department stores and beautiful churches that are being restored after the vandalism of the Soviet era and the hard-line atheism. Every visitor to Moscow is irresistibly drawn to the Red Square, the historical and spiritual heart of the city, so loaded with associations and drama that it seems to embody all of Russia's triumphs and tragedies. The Kremlin, broads and glitters in the heart of Moscow. It thrills and tantalizes whenever you see its towers against the skyline or its cathedrals and palaces arrayed above the Moska River. The Kremlin is surrounded by a beautiful residential district that is known as the Belvy Gorod or the White Town. The Belvy Gorod was the very heart of the city during the sixteenth century, and even today it has a strongly medieval feel

Not only is the Red Square a popular Moscow attraction, but is flanked by world known sites and tourist attractions. Contrary to popular belief, Red Square received its name through the Russian word for red, which centuries ago meant beautiful, and not due to a communist symbol or the red Kremlin walls. Red Square came into being during the reign of Ivan III at the end of the 15th century. Named after the Trinity Cathedral, the Red Square was formerly known as Trinity Square, and is believed to only have had the name change at the end of the 17th century. St Basils Cathedral is now located in the site where Trinity Cathedral once stood.

St Basils Cathedral is situated along side the eastern wall of the Kremlin, with its spiralling bright coloured onion domes. Also located around the Red Sqaure, is the Kazan Cathedral, Russias National Museum, the GUM department store and the 1990 replica of the Resurrection Gate. The Red Square served as Moscows meeting place. Hear people used to crowd to meet friends, hear Government announcements and celebrated church festivals. During the reign of Peter the Great and Ivan the Terrible, the Red Square was used for public executions, and on the Red Square platform named Lobnoye Mesto, the Tsar would some times address the people.

When Peter the Great moved to St Petersburg in 1712, the Red Square became dormant as Moscow was no longer the Russian capital. The new communist regime, the Bolsheviks, moved the capital back to Moscow in 1918, and turned the Red Square into a parade ground and memorial cemetery. The Lenin Mausoleum was built in 1924, where the embalmed body of the communist founder was laid to rest

The new communist regime was focused on the goals on the Soviet, and saw no space for the historical Kazan Cathedral or the Iverskaya Chapel with the Resurrection Gates, and destroyed these buildings to make space for demonstrations and military parades. The GUM Department Store and Historical Museum were also in line for destruction, but the outbreak of World War II saved the buildings, as attention was diverted the war effort. The Red Square was home to many military parades but most significant was the parade on 7 November Nazi troops were advancing on the Moscow capital, and the Russian soldiers paraded on the square and marched off to lines to defend the capital. This action lifted the spirit of the Soviet people and renewed their confidence in the war. Hundreds of Soviet troops again filled the square in June 1945, but this time it was to celebrate their victory over the Nazis and German banners were thrown down in front of Lenins Mausoleum. The Red Square is surrounded by history and beauty, which provides education and endless attractions for the visitor. It is still used as a place of celebration, but instead of victorious parading soldiers, it is filled with excited, chanting concerts goers