My first question to you would be have you ever met me? I'm fascinated with Russia. I've been to both Russia and The Soviet Union, depending on which year you talk about of my trips. I know that there's a war and we can't really go now, but once in a while I miss Mother Russia, and I thought I'd mention a few things that you may not have thought of that you can find in Moscow.
1. Krutitsky Court. This is historical in so many ways, and beautiful in so many ways. Krutitsky was erected first in the 1200's. This was a few hundred years after the creation of the Russian Orthodox Church and before the Romanovs became the leaders of the empire.
It's been many things over the centuries. It was built and rebuilt in the first several centuries. It was once a military warehouse at the height of the Romanov Dynasty in the 1700's and through the next hundred or more years. It was restored after WWII and eventually returned to the church after the fall of communism in the 1990's.
It doesn't get more historic, and it's not far from the center of the city where the Kremlin and Red Square are. Today, Krutitsky Court is the personal Metochin of Moscow's Patriarch.
https://www.russinfo.in/moscow/parks-palaces/krutitsky-metochion/
https://qvedo.com/details/a1c7c1fa386a7274-palace-of-the-metropolitans-of-krutitsky
https://www.gw2ru.com/travel/3806-krutitsy-court-moscow
2. The Apothecary Garden. This park was created by the authority of Peter the Great himself in 1706 to grow medicinal plants. It is believed that he planted three of the trees that stand today, himself. As time moved on the University of Moscow took over in 1805 and it is a beautiful city garden and park today. It's in a museum district not far from downtown, and is a serene and gorgeous outdoor venue in the country's capital. It's the oldest botanical garden in all of Russia.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298484-d2467468-Reviews-Aptekarskiy_Ogorod_Botanical_Garden-Moscow_Central_Russia.html
https://www.russinfo.in/moscow/parks-palaces/apothecary-garden/
https://www.eng.petersway.org/monuments/russia/moscow/old_botanical_garden/
https://www.hse.ru/recommends/news/904291128.html
3. The Museum of Soviet Arcade Games. This one is self explanatory, and reportedly closed according to some places on the internet. It's also reportedly open according to others. Do I know? No. What I do know is that if anyone's ever played Tetris, you know how much Russians love video games, so this is a great place to stop. In America we have Fun Spot Park in New Hampshire, and in Moscow this isn't far from the famous TV tower.
I truly hope it isn't closed. This would be a lot of fun.
https://arcadeblogger.com/2019/06/15/the-museum-of-soviet-arcade-games/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/soviet-arcade-game-museum
In case the one in Moscow is closed, there's one in St. Petersburg!
https://www.introducingsaintpetersburg.com/museum-soviet-arcade-machines
4. Rostokino Aqueduct Park. Also known as Milliony Bridge over the River Yauza was built in the late 1700's and was part of Moscow's first centralized water supply. Built on the authority of Catherine the Great, it's 1,168 feet long, 62 feet high and has 21 individual arches. It's totally reminiscent of something the Romans would have built.
The aqueduct is a historically protected structure, a pedestrian bridge and part of a small park in central Moscow. It's quiet, pretty and has some great views. There were rumors that it was permanently closed, but it was only a temporary closing for repairs and is otherwise open to the public as a park.
https://mindtrip.ai/attraction/moscow-russia/rostokinsky-aqueduct/at-SEZIgDxE
https://4traveler.me/en/travel/moscow/rostokino-aqueduct-moscow
https://qvedo.com/details/23e3212b040f3e10-aqueduct
https://www.likealocalguide.com/moscow/rostokino-aqueduct
5. Sokol Artist's Village. Nestled not far from all those big tall buildings in the modern parts of Moscow sits a timeless village of dachas. It almost feels like you've left the city altogether. What's it all about?
In the early days of communism, this settlement began on what was the outskirts of the city at the time. Lenin, himself was part of the idea of cooperative settlements such as this. Since the 1970's it's been under state protection and currently is locally self governing. A few of the dachas have been sold to rich people in more recent times, and the rich people have torn them down and put more modern villas in their place, but the village is still quaint and yet sits right in the middle of urban development.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sokol
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/10/18/sokol-artists-village-in-the-colors-of-autumn-a75306
https://mapcarta.com/N1274540186
There you have it. Have I visited any of these sites? Yes, a couple and I thought they were fascinating. Do I think Americans should be traveling to Russia right now? No. Do I hope we'll be able to in the future? Yes!
In the meantime, check out my YouTube Channel, Adventures for Anyone and see all the great things I'm finding in New York City and the Northeast of the United States!
https://www.youtube.com/@ninakindred9466
You'll find 5 vlogs each week and a lot of them are about unique things to see and do where I live!
Enjoy!
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