Red Square is much more than an iconic view of Moscow. It is a historic architectural ensemble that developed over several centuries, bringing together buildings and structures from very different periods of Russian history.

At the heart of the square stands the Moscow Kremlin, located in the very centre of the city. Its famous walls and towers were built in the late 15th century, during the reign of Grand Prince Ivan III. Italian architects and craftsmen were invited to Moscow to work on the construction of the Kremlin.

Nearby, we find some of the most recognisable landmarks of Moscow.
St Basil’s Cathedral was built in the 16th century and has become one of the most recognisable symbols of the city.

The State Historical Museum is much younger. Its distinctive red-brick building was constructed in the late 19th century.
Walking through central Moscow, you can almost move between different periods of history within just a few minutes.

And here we come across a small linguistic trap.
The name Krasnaya Ploshchad, or Red Square, is not connected with communism, the Soviet red flag, or the colour of the Kremlin’s brick walls. In fact, the Kremlin walls looked different at different times and were even whitewashed.
The traditional explanation connects the name Krasnaya, meaning “red”, with an older meaning of the Russian word - beautiful.

From the square, we can also see the Spasskaya Tower with its famous clock — the Kremlin chimes.
And from here, Nikolskaya Street begins, one of the best-known streets in the historic centre of Moscow.