Medieval capital, heart of Soviet domination and powerhouse of the capitalist revolution; Moscow has for centuries acted as the fulcrum of Russian political, cultural and economic life.
Though influence has shifted at times to St Petersburg, it is only Moscow that can boast the legacy of these three distinct eras of Russian history.
Moscow's highlights
Amongst the medieval onion-domes of St Basil’s and the stark Soviet-era high-rise blocks, gleaming skyscrapers bear testimony to the excitement and opportunity of a 21st century, modern city.
The list of world-renowned historic sites, great buildings and galleries here is immense: Red Square, the Kremlin, the Pushkin Museum and Tretyakov Galleries, Arbat Street and the Bolshoi Theatre to name a few.
Much of the pleasure of Moscow , however, is to be found by simply wandering through this muddle of ancient and modern and soaking up the blend of past and present amongst the city’s markets, picturesque parks and backstreets.