Moscow in Summer
Moscow in Summer
The
statue of Peter I,
better known as Peter the Great, on the bank of the Moscow River is one
of the largest outdoor sculptures in the world. The reign of Peter I
was noted for its many sweeping reforms. Under his rule Russia adopted
the Julian calendar, (unfortunately just as the west was changing to
the Gregorian system). He forced Russia to adopt western technologies
and imported craftsmen from western Europe to teach the new skills
required. He built Saint Petersburg on the Neva River delta to be his
new capital. He forced the Russian Orthodox Church to reform its
governance. He changed the face of nation, and is today considered to
be the father of modern Russia.
Moscow's
Kremlin (fortress) is a
world Heritage site. Floating past the
Kremlin one can enjoy the beauty of the golden domes of the cathedrals
within the walls. The photos show the Beklemishevskaya Tower - the
corner tower on the southeastern side by the river, the Grand Kremlin
Palace rising majestically above the wall, and the Ivan the Great Bell
Tower behind the Cathedral of the Assumption.
Moscow is known
for the "seven sisters", the seven ornate Stalinist skyscrapers built
during the last 10 years of his regime. The buildings are in an
uniquely elaborate style combining elements from 1930s American
skyskrapers, medieval Gothic cathedrals and the baroque towers of the
Moscow Kremlin. The sisters include two hotels, two government
buildings, two apartment buildings, and the University. Several of the
sisters can be seen from the river. The photos show the apartment
building on Kotyelnicheskaya Nabyerezhnaya (far left) and a panorama of
the city with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the centre.
Christ the Saviour
Cathedral was built as a thanksgiving offering to God for the Russian
victory over Napoleon in 1812. Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture made its
debut on the site in 1882, and the cathedral was consecrated the
following year. In 1931, the cathedral was demolished to make way for
the Palace of Soviets, which would have been the 8th sister. However,
the Great patriotic War (WWII) intervened,
and the site remained empty until Nikita Khrushchev turned the flooded
foundation hole into a public swimming pool. In February 1990, after
the fall of the USSR, the Russian Orthodoz Church was given permission
to rebuild the cathedral. A temporary cornerstone was laid at the end
of 1990. The new foundation was poured in 1994, the lower church, the
Church of the Transfiguration, was consecrated in 1996, and the new
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, seen here, was consecrated in 2000.
Due to extensive bombing and shelling by the Germans during the Great
Patriotic War, and Soviet attempts to modernize the city at the expense
of a great number of historically significant buildings, many of
Moscow's architectural treasures no longer exist. This lack makes the
remaining examples of imperial architecture all the more appealing. The
far left photo shows the residence of the British Ambassador, formerly
the British Embassy. The left photo is of one of the many Stalinist-era
buildings in the central city.
The
laudable Soviet policy of
providing housing for every citizen or family, and the rapid growth of
the Muscovite population after the Great Patriotic War led to the
construction of large, monotonous housing blocks. They are ugly, poorly
built and usually ill-maintained. Most Muscovites live in these
buildings, as did we. This pair of highrise apartment blocks beside the
river on the outskirts of Moscow, one ornamented by a huge
advertisement, are typical.
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This page was updated on 26 November 2007.Contact me at: patti.primeau@sympatico.caThis site was edited using Nvu and Style Master. |