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Tsar Cannon
The <Tsar Cannon> is a large bronze cannon on display on the grounds of the Moscow Kremlin. It was cast in 1586 in Moscow, by the Russian master bronze caster Andrey Chokhov. The cannon weighs 39.312 tons with a length of 17.5 feet with an internal diameter of 35 inches. Mostly of symbolic impact, it was never used in a war. However the cannon bears traces of at least one firing. The Guinness Book of Records classifies it as the largest bombard by caliber in the world. The barrel is decorated with relief images, including an equestrian image of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich.
Tsar Bell
The <Tsar Bell> also known as the Tsarsky Kolokol or Royal Bell is a 20.1 ft tall, 22 ft diameter bell on display on the grounds of the Moscow Kremlin. The bell was commissioned by Empress Anna Ivanovna, niece of Peter the Great. Made of bronze, the bell was broken during metal casting and has never been rung. The bell is decorated with relief images of angels, plants, oval medallions with saints, and nearly life-size images of Empress Anna and Tsar Alexey, who was reigning at the time the previous Tsar Bell was cast.
After soaking up culture and history at the Kremlin it is time for something different. Arbat Street has an eclectic blend of stores and museums. Hard Rock Café, McDonalds, KFC are among the shops on Arbat Street.
Arbat Street
<Arbat Street> or commonly referred to as the Arbat, is a pedestrian street about one kilometer long in the historical centre of Moscow. The Arbat has existed since at least the 15th century, thus laying claim to being one of the oldest surviving streets of the Russian capital.
In the 18th century, the Arbat came to be regarded by the Russian nobility as the most prestigious living area in Moscow. The street was almost completely destroyed by the great fire during Napoleon's occupation of Moscow in 1812 and had to be rebuilt. In the 19th and early 20th centuries it became known as the place where petty nobility, artists, and academics lived. In the Soviet period, it was the home of many high-ranking government officials.
Today, once again, it is considered a desirable place to live. Because of the many historic buildings, and the numerous artists who have lived and worked in the street, the Arbat is also an important tourist attraction.
Russian National Ballet Company
Experience the beauty and artistry of the Russian ballet Tonight we were treated to a thrilling show by <Russian National Ballet Company> – “Kostroma.” “Kostroma” cleverly and with great artistry unites lyrical sketches with elements of folklore and ancient Russian epic. They performed stylized folk dances of Russians, Ukrainians, Cossacks, and other nationalities that inhabit the Russian Federation. This colorful show featured 50 dancers on stage and 17 costume changes. The ensemble has toured the world with this show to great acclaim.
“Kostroma is staged at the concert hall of the Cosmos Hotel in central Moscow. We arrived at the Cosmos Hotel early and I went exploring on my own. Nearby the Cosmos Hotel is the “All-Russia Exhibition Center” and the “Monument to the Conquerors of Space.”
All-Russia Exhibition Centre
<All-Russia Exhibition Center> is a permanent general-purpose trade show in Moscow. The exhibition center was established February 17, 1935 The exhibition center was the vision of Joseph Stalin to create a cultural center that glorified the ideology of communism and socialism. The first show season was announced to begin in July 1937. However, plans did not materialize, and three weeks before the deadline Joseph Stalin personally postponed the exhibition to August 1938. It seemed that this time everything would be ready on time. It opened on August 1, 1939 to over 40,000 daily attendees but the exhibition closed after the German invasion until the end of WWII.