Red Square

Red Square is one of the oldest and largest squares in Moscow, Russia's capital. It is regarded as one of the most famous squares in Europe and the world due to its historical value and the neighboring historical structures. It is situated in the historic center of Moscow, within the eastern walls of the Kremlin. It is Moscow's city landmark, including prominent structures such as Saint Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, and the GUM. It has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.

As one of the most beautiful historical sites in Russia, the Red Square is 70 meters wide and 330 meters long, approximately rectangular in shape. It runs lengthwise from northwest to southeast along a section of the Kremlin wall that constitutes its southwest boundary. The area is flanked in the northeast by the GUM department store building and the historic Kitai-Gorod district, in the northwest by the State Historical Museum and the Resurrection Gate, and in the southeast by Saint Basil's Cathedral. Tverskaya Street begins northwest of the plaza, behind the State Historical Museum building, and to the southeast is the so-called Basilius slope, which leads to the Moskva River, which flows down and over a bridge to the Zamoskvorechye District.

Nikolskaya Street, named after the Nikolaus Tower of the Kremlin, which is directly opposite, and the Ilyinka, both of which have existed since the 14th century and were once vital arteries of old Moscow, branch off to the northeast from Red Square. The square itself is now a pedestrian zone, with the exception of the access road extending through it to the Kremlin's Savior Gate.

Paintings by Vasily Surikov, Konstantin Yuon, and others illustrate the rich history of Red Square. The square was designed to be Moscow's major marketplace. It was also the venue of several official festivities and proclamations, as well as the occasional crowning of Russia's Tsars. Since that time, the square has been gradually built up and has been used for official occasions by all Russian governments.

Location: Moscow, Russia