The old and new capitals of Russia will always find only negative sides in each other, and this is normal, and is it worth thinking about it if, in the “struggle” to preserve or maintain the status, these beautiful cities literally “overgrow” with palaces, galleries, parks, sculptures, shopping centers and so on on the list.
Due to such an abundance of places that just need to be visited, sometimes there is a slight panic, because each structure is already blinking with lights. Therefore, the question that is already on the agenda of tourists from all over the world is really simple: what to see in Moscow in December? But the answer to it is too long.
Parks
The central district of the capital - standing on the banks of the Moskva River - is a really popular place. And we are not even talking about the illuminated illumination of modernity, but about the semi-romantic flair of the nineteenth century, fanned by the efforts of the classics, when artists, comedians and circus performers flocked here, ready to demonstrate their talents in all their abundance. Today, the popularity of this part of the city is more and more like a constant, also due to the presence of luxurious parks, which, even with the December frosts, are in no hurry to lose their charm.
The list of relatively old parks in the city of Neskuchny Sad tops the list, which got its rather eccentric name due to the unusual decision of its caretakers: most of the employees who kept order tried to stand completely still, creating the illusion of statues, and their faces and clothes smeared with chalk completed the image.
As soon as a potential intruder showed himself, the "statues" instantly came to life. In its design, the boring garden resembles rather a sketch on the theme of the nineteenth century with bridges, sculptures and several "houses" in which not the last people of the empire preferred to live. All this, wrapped in snow-white capes, creates an amazing holiday atmosphere. The 21st century added ice slides of its own, which are popular among adults, since some sections of the "tracks" can be simply dangerous for the little guests of Neskuchny Garden.
The park, proudly bearing the name of Maxim Gorky today, has already crossed its centenary. This place was originally created not so much for entertainment purposes as for ideological purposes: it was necessary to proclaim cultural superiority, which resulted in the creation of the first children's railway in Russia of those days, numerous sculptures and other structures.
Performances and lectures of various kinds are often held here, and numerous cafes are ready to warm up the guests of Gorky Park.
The third park in the capital, completing the park complex of the Moskva River, is the park on Vorobyovy Gory. Of course, it is quite difficult to call the local hills “mountains”, however, even so, stunning views of the December capital open up from their tops. In addition, this place is ideal for lovers of downhill skiing - you can climb any of the open “peaks” by cable car, but go down with a breeze. Those who are not very confident in skiing can contact one of the local ski schools, whose trainers will help to cope with these difficulties.
Skating rinks
The winter appearance of the capital will be incomplete without numerous skating rinks, which are opening in almost all parks in Moscow. This entertainment is interesting for both children and adults, and therefore evening skating rinks with lighting and cheerful music invariably gather around skating lovers and their attendants. Fortunately, not all skating rinks in Moscow are paid, which in no way affects the quality of your pastime. This applies to both indoor and outdoor ice rinks.
The park on the Angarsk Ponds is especially hectic in winter because of the hyperactive kids that gather here. It is here that one of the most popular skating rinks in Moscow is located, the entrance to which is free. Here, with the first days of winter, figure skating schools and some sections are opening.
Perhaps the skating rink in Goncharovsky Park is not the largest in the capital, but this does not prevent it from working stably. This is a skating rink with artificial ice, and therefore the quality of the surface does not depend on the tricks of the capricious weather. There is a skate rental point in the park, and the fee is taken not for one hour of skating, but for the whole day, which few skating rinks in the capital can boast of.
Among the paid parks, complexes in Gorky Park and in Sokolniki compete for the first place. It should be borne in mind that both parks are large enough, and therefore there are several ice skating grounds on their territories.
For example, three skating rinks will operate in Sokolniki Park at once. "Giant" is the oldest of the trinity presented, and it is also free. In the coming winter, not only the Big Circle will flood, but also the Birch Alley. The ice of the "Gigant" is natural, and therefore the opportunity to visit the skating rink strongly depends on the temperature regime.
Guests of the "Giant" are guaranteed not to freeze - stalls are scattered everywhere where you can buy hot tea or even fragrant mulled wine, so-called outdoor fireplaces work. The second area of the park - "Ice" - is paid and is considered the most modern. It is connected to the Giant by a vault of wooden arches, beautifully illuminated in the evening.
A kind of tunnel of light smoothly flows into the lighting of the rink itself, which is ready to demonstrate a real show with the participation of light installations and lasers. The entrance to this site will cost up to three hundred and fifty rubles, depending on the day of the week. "Skating rink in the forest" rounds up the trinity and is also free to visit.
The skating rink in Gorky Park promises to be a hit this winter. The theme of the current year is modernity, namely, the world of street art. A rather large-scale installation "Frozen Fountain", the diameter of which is really striking - almost twenty-five meters, should become a visiting card. The skating rink itself will more likely resemble a light show - multi-colored diodes will be built into the ice itself, and various decorative elements will shimmer in all possible shades. Entrance fees to the park vary - on weekdays they can reach three hundred rubles, and on weekends - up to five hundred.
Museums
Museum life is also not slowing down. And we are talking about both the recognized titans of the museum world, and about small relatively museum complexes of an unusual profile. Everyone knows that there is one "bad apartment" in Moscow, which, like the Sherlock Holmes fortress, first appeared in an ink version, and only then acquired a material analogue.
Today, at the address of the apartment where M. A. Bulgakov lived (Sadovaya st., 10, apt. 50) is the only museum in Russia so far dedicated to the author of the immortal novel - a kind of "Gioconda" in literature - and his heritage. A visit to this apartment is an event that should not be missed, because its atmosphere is really filled with something elusively mystical.
The expositions of the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (25 Petrovka st.) Continue to shock their guests, again the first, but in a slightly different area than the previously mentioned museum - the creativity of innovators of the twentieth century and the present. Of course, the collections displayed are based on the avant-garde trend in all its horror and grandeur.
These are the works of recognized avant-garde masters from abroad, for example, Salvador Dali, Henri Rousseau, Pablo Picasso and many others. There are also pioneers of the Russian avant-garde, natives of Jack of Diamonds, Blue Rose and Donkey's Tail: Mikhail Larionov, Wassily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Kazimir Malovich, Natalia Goncharova and others.
Interesting places
The first month of winter transforms not only nature. Streets and squares, dressed in a snow-white fur coat and decorated with iridescent garlands, acquire a special solemn look, and popular attractions surprise even the indigenous inhabitants of the metropolis with their new bright beauty and romantic charm. To visit interesting places in December Moscow means to plunge into a magical festive atmosphere and gain impressions for the whole coming year.
Tretyakov Gallery
Among the museums famous for their collections of paintings of various trends, the Tretyakov Gallery (Lavrushinsky per., 10) occupies a prominent place, which has one of the most complete collections of Russian painting of the nineteenth century, collected on the personal initiative of a person with perfect taste - Pavel Tretyakov.
It is here that you can get acquainted with the canvases of the Wanderers, learn a little more about the founder of the gallery himself and his relationship with representatives of the artistic world of those days. The comments of the guide, who himself is in love with these pages of the fine art of his country, will be able to fill the excursion with colors.
No less interesting and exciting can be a visit to the building of the Tretyakov Gallery, which was completed after - on Krymsky Val. Here, the help of a guide is already guaranteed to be needed in order to understand the main trends that the twentieth century proposed. Of particular interest are the halls of the so-called "Apartment Art", that is, those halls where paintings are exhibited that have previously only been at exhibitions, often held only in the apartments of the artists themselves.
Sretenka
Each city, which allows itself to proudly recall not only fragmentary pages of its history, but the entire historical process, does not forget about its own origins, which usually consisted between the ancient masonry of "central", "axial" streets.
Today, many will confidently say that Tverskaya Street is such a centripetal core of Moscow, however, it received this status only in the eighteenth century. What street had such a high rank earlier?
Sretenka greatly differs from other, even historical, streets of Moscow by the fact that its seemingly strange name has never changed in the entire history of its centuries-old existence. It should be noted that earlier Sretenka was associated rather with the Orthodox component of the city, which was traditionally strong, even its name itself comes from the Church Slavonic version of the language. Today, only Rozhdestvensky Boulevard remains of the luxury of bygone days, which continues to adorn two monasteries that survived the Soviet period - Sretensky and Rozhdestvensky.
Explore the most mysterious, mystical and scandalous nooks of the history of Russia thanks to a guided tour with a very energetic guide. Such an excursion, as a rule, begins with Trubnaya Square and the history of its very peculiar name, followed by the former quarters of love "free" from prejudices and bloody massacres in the slums of Grachevka, the twittering of the feathered inhabitants of the bird market, taverns with a very impressive supply of gossip collected for decades. the gloss of the most luxurious apartment buildings in Moscow, the former houses of Pushkin, Tchaikovsky, Lermontov and the names of the Decembrists embroidered in gold.
A special point is the Sukharev Tower and the half-forgotten stories of one of the most successful "warlocks" in history. The excursion will be interesting not only from a historical or even educational point of view, but also from elementary interest, because the famous and famous "flea market" continues to work, as it did a hundred years before.
Moscow Metro
Many people have not the most rosy associations with the metro - rush hour, crowds of people walking in continuous streams along echoing corridors, eternal quarrels and too loud conversations, which are far from always a desire to hear. And if we are talking about the Moscow metro, the association is squared, and after some reflection, and cubed, but such a preconceived impression is fundamentally wrong.
Today, this metro is viewed rather from a practical point of view, in order to simply bury its nose in a book or a phone, close off the world with headphones and quickly get to the desired area of the city. But at the time of the beginning of its construction, the metro was perceived rather as a symbol of the victory of human thought over nature - a symbol of another victory.
But the Moscow Metro is more a book with more than colorful illustrations, but this book is unhappy, because few people today consider the visualized images of Gothic stained glass windows, sculptures of the High Renaissance, the variety of images of blessed Florence frozen in the time of Dante. There are also very curious parallels between elevated buildings and the appearance of the subway at certain sections of the route.
All this can be learned during a stunning excursion around the Moscow metro. The excursion program includes a visit to only seven stations and takes no more than two hours in time, but its structure itself is more than rational: a consistent visit to these stations will allow you not only to learn to notice the "hidden" monuments and underground passages, but also to track how it has changed , starting from the thirties of the past century.
Red Square
Acquaintance with the New Year's capital traditionally begins on the main city square. The symbol of the greatness of the Russian state appeared before the walls of the Kremlin at the end of the 15th century. Throughout its long life, this cobblestone space has seen many historical events: the battle with Batu's army, executions at the Execution Ground, the invasion of Napoleon's army ... In June 1945, the Victory Parade thundered all over the world.
For tourists, Red Square is a real Eldorado. In terms of the number of architectural masterpieces per square meter, it has left far behind other popular places in the city. A single majestic ensemble is created by the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, Lenin's Mausoleum, Kazan Cathedral, GUM, the Historical Museum, a monument to Minin and Pozharsky. And in front of the Resurrection Gate there is a sign "Zero kilometer of the Russian Federation".
In the winter months, the legendary skating rink is definitely the leader among the main attractions of Red Square. A photograph of the performance of a double sheepskin coat against the background of GUM, sparkling with lights, is this not the best souvenir brought from the snow-covered capital? And if fortune smiles, you can get a priceless trophy in the form of a selfie with figure skating stars or take part in master classes with outstanding athletes.
GUM-fair
Cutting through the ice surface of the skating rink on Red Square, it is almost impossible to freeze. But if, nevertheless, a similar unfortunate incident happened to you, you can fix it at the GUM Fair - a Christmas market located next to the main Christmas tree of the country. European and Russian food, painted carousels and perky music - all this awaits the participants of the celebration, which starts at the Kremlin walls in December.
Cozy casket houses stretch from Ilyinka to the Historical Museum. On the counters of local merchants there are Christmas tree decorations, lovely trinkets, knitted mittens, lacquer boxes and national souvenirs: nesting dolls, felt boots, Gzhel porcelain, Pavlovo Posad shawls.The seductive aromas of pancakes, baked potatoes, fried chestnuts and grilled sausages awaken a savage appetite, while scalding mulled wine and herbal tea warm the body and soul.
Visiting GUM will also leave vivid impressions. In December days, the luxury store dresses up with its inherent excellent taste and unique chic. Long light lines can be wandered for hours. And it doesn't matter if astronomical prices in designer boutiques cause only bewilderment. After all, the trading house offers delightful decorations, traditional New Year's exhibitions and a festive atmosphere free of charge.
Nikolskaya street
One of the oldest city arteries, Nikolskaya Street, runs from Krasnaya to Lubyanskaya Square. It owes its name to the monastery of St. Nicholas the Old, which appeared in 1390. At that time Nikolskaya was part of the Vladimirsky tract connecting the Kremlin with Suzdal, Vladimir and Rostov the Great. Even before the appearance of the walls of Kitai-gorod, there were already boyar courtyards, monasteries and shopping arcades.
Representatives of the noble families of the Vorotynsky, Dolgoruky, Trubetskoy, Sheremetevs chose such a popular place as their home. Russian typography was born on Nikolskaya: in 1564, the Apostle by Mstislavets and Fedorov was published at the Printing House. And the theological school in the Zaikonospassky monastery was known as the most prestigious educational institution in the country.
Walking along the lavishly illuminated Nikolskaya Street, visit the luxurious GUM, the historic Ferrein pharmacy and the Kazan Cathedral - the place where the venerated icon of the Mother of God is kept. Take a look into the courtyard of the former Nikolo-Greek monastery, where there is a small square with benches on which no one ever sits. Is it because there was an old cemetery here earlier?
Moscow City
The business center on Krasnopresnenskaya embankment evokes conflicting emotions among the residents of the capital. Some believe that the new Moscow verticals fit perfectly into the architectural image of the metropolis; others argue that gigantic glass and concrete towers disfigure the historic center. But, be that as it may, the fact remains: ultra-modern high-rise buildings attract tens of thousands of tourists every year.
It is better to start a tour of Moscow City with a visit to the highest museum in Europe. A futuristic exposition on the 56th floor of the Imperia skyscraper introduces the history of the creation of a “city within a city” and non-trivial engineering solutions used in construction.
Armed with the knowledge, you can sit at the bar or head to one of the four observation decks. The most notable of them - the Federation located in the tower “PNR360” - boasts a virtual 3D exhibition and a real ice cream factory.
The complex is interesting not only for lovers of heavenly landscapes, but also for shopping fans. The latter run the risk of getting lost among 400 shops of the Afimall City shopping center. There is also a cinema, several cafes, an entertainment area for children and adults, a virtual reality park and the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737NG flight simulators. In general, you will not be bored.
Ostankino Tower
Another Moscow giant rises on Akademika Korolev Street. The only night was needed for the architect Nikolai Nikitin to develop a project for a unique structure. It took seven long years to bring the designer's brilliant idea to life. The construction of the 540-meter reinforced concrete giant, which at that time led the hit parade of the tallest buildings in the world, was completed in 1967.
A visit to the Ostankino tower is possible only as part of an excursion group. The most exciting part of the visit is the ascent to the closed observation deck. The impression of an abyss opening underfoot is enhanced by the glass floor located at the exit from the high-speed elevators. And those who want to find out all the engineering secrets and get an adrenaline rush are waiting for the 85th level equipped with an open balcony.
You can combine sightseeing of the capital's beauty and a delicious dinner at the "Seventh Heaven" - a revolving restaurant under the observation deck. While admiring the stunning panorama opening from a height of 328 m, do not forget about the purpose of your visit - acquaintance with the positions of the heavenly menu. Creating culinary delights, the local chef has focused on Russian and European cuisine.
All-Russian Exhibition Center
With the arrival of December, the main exhibition center of the capital turns into the City of Winter, full of light installations and great entertainment. For active recreation of children and adults, a giant skating rink is poured and a 7-meter tubing slide is installed.
With the onset of cold weather, Sky Town does not stop working - a rope park with an area of 1000 m2, located in the Dam zone. In the covered pavilion at the Friendship of Peoples fountain, you can play curling, and at the Yukigassen site, you can play snowballs.
A Santa Claus factory opens in the Crafts Park, where master classes on creating multi-colored candy canes, Christmas tree decorations and holiday souvenirs are held. The Moskvarium also does not stand aside. Animal actors - sea lionesses, walrus, beluga whale, dolphins and killer whales - delight the audience with colorful New Year's performances.
A lot of interesting things await guests of the All-Russian Exhibition Center outside the pavilions. Interactive exhibits of the VDNKh Museum will tell about the years of the exhibition's formation, and the extensive multimedia collection of the historical park "Russia is my history" will tell about the history of the Motherland. The Cosmonautics Pavilion is always crowded, among the 90,000 artifacts of which you will find the spacesuits of the first Soviet conquerors of the universe, the Gagarin capsule and the full-size Soyuz spacecraft.
Theaters
The theatrical life of the capital does not freeze along with the ice of the skating rinks, but on the contrary finds new interpretations of the plots known to everyone. For example, the Bolshoi Theater is in a hurry to open its two hundred and forty-first season.
This building, executed in the classical style and in accordance with its lofty canons, adorns Teatralnaya Square today and, as never before, indulges the discerning taste of its numerous guests with an abundance of genres and productions, among which ballet becomes king: the brilliant creation of John Cranko Onegin, the complexity of the choreography and expressiveness of movements in "A Hero of Our Time", subtle lyricism of "The Nutcracker". Everyone knows these stories, but not everyone is ready to see them from a slightly different angle.
Frost and snowfall is not a reason to hibernate. In winter, even an ordinary walk along the shimmering multi-colored garlands of the capital's streets becomes a fabulous journey. Therefore, there is no need to hesitate for a long time whether it is worth coming to Moscow in December. Pack warm clothes in your suitcase and go to the enchanting realm of fantastic installations, all kinds of entertainment and a festive mood.
