Kitai-gorod wall
Kitay-gorod wall, Varvarka gates, Moscow, 1920
Beginning of Varvarka street, Moscow, 2010
Kitay-gorod is one of the oldest parts of Moscow. It is separated from the Moscow Kremlin by Red Square. Hundreds of years ago craftsmen and merchants settled here making the area a bustling trading quarter.
Kitay-gorod was once encircled by medieval walls, it was like a town within a bigger town. The walls were erected in 1536-39 by an Italian architect known under the name Petrok Maly. They were as thick as they were high, the average being six meters in both dimensions. The walls survived up to the 20th century, the last of the towers were demolished in the 1930s.
In the 19th century lots of banks and shops were opened here, Kitai-gorod was known as the most prestigious business area of Moscow. Much of the architecture has survived since that time. Here you can find beautiful examples of Moscow Art Noveau and colorful churches scattered throughout this ancient neighborhood.
Moscow mayor recently announced plans for a full-scale restoration of the wall. Some parts of it have already been rebuilt. A new tower has been added, inside are a couple of restaurants and bars.
Bridge The Time Gap
The construction of Moscow State University. Moscow, 1951-52. source: www.oldmos.ru
Moscow state University. Moscow, 2009
Red Square Moscow, 1987
Red Square Moscow, 2009
Fedor Alexeev. Red Square. Moscow, 19th century
Red Square Moscow, 21st century
Christ the Savior Catherdal, Moscow, the end of the 19th century
Christ the Svior Cathedral, Moscow, 2009
The church of the iceon of Mother of God of Kazan. Moscow 1900s.
Kaluzhskaya square. Moscow 2009
Rumantsev museum (former Pashkov house). Moscow traffic, 1902
Pashkov house. Moscow traffic, 2009
Red Square, Moscow, 1937. sourse: www.oldmos.ru
Red Square, Moscow, 2009
F.Alexeev. The view on the Resurrection Gates. Moscow, 1811.
The Resurrection gates and the History museum. Moscow, 2009
Moscva swimming pool. Moscow, 1960-s
Christ the Savior Cathedral. Moscow, 2009
Gogol's sculpture by Andreev on Preshistensky bulvar. Moscow, 1909
Gogol's sculpture by Tomsky on Gogolevsky bulvar. Moscow, 2009
Market on Red Square, Moscow, 1910 source: www.oldmos.ru
Gift market near Red Square, Moscow, 2009
Red Square, Moscow, 1900
Red Square, Moscow, 2010
National hotel, Moscow, 1895
National hotel, Moscow, 2009
Church of St. John the Warrior, Moscow, 1888 source:oldmos.ru
Church of St. John the Warrior, Moscow, 2010
The church of Saint Nicholas, Moscow, 1974
The church of Saint Nicholas, Moscow, 2010
The Trinity Church in Nikitniki, Moscow, 1881
The Trinity Church in Nikitniki, Moscow, 2010
Malaya Dmitrovka street, Moscow, 1910
Malaya Dmitrovka street, Moscow, 2010
Eliseevsky grocery story, photo early XX century
Eliseevsky grocery nowadays
The house of governor-general, Moscow, beginning of the 20th century
Moscow Mayor's office, Moscow, 2010
The synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya, Moscow, 1888
The synagogue on Bolshaya Bronnaya, Moscow, 2010
Arbatskaya square, Moscow, 1925
Arbatskaya square, Moscow, 2010
The view on the Kremlin, Moscow, 1890s
The view on the Kremlin, Moscow, 2010
Kuznetsky most street, Moscow, 1900
Kuznetsky most street, Moscow, 2010
Tretyakov drive, Moscow, 1900
Tretyakov Drive, Moscow, 2010
Lubanskaya squre, Moscow, 1928
Lubanskaya squre, Moscow, 2010
Dzerzhinsky monument, Moscow, 1971
Lubanskaya squre, Moscow, 2010
Moscow University and Church of St Tatyana, Moscow, 1906
Moscow University and Church of St Tatyana, Moscow, 2010
General Post offfice, Moscow, early 20th century
General Post offfice, Moscow, 2010
Perlov Tea House, photographed in the 1960th
Perlov tea house, photographed in 2010
Sukhareva Tower
Sretenka Street
The Sofia Embankment, Moscow, 1957 source: oldmos.ru
The Sofia Embankment, Moscow, 2010
Moscow Zoo, Moscow, 1934
Moscow Zoo, Moscow, 2010
Moscow tram, Moscow, 1933. source: oldmos.ru
Moscow tram, Moscow, 2010
Limonade machines, Moscow 1989
Coca cola kiosk, Moscow, 2010
M. Vorobjov. The view of Manege, Kutafia tower and the church of St. Nickolas, Moscow, 1917
Manege, Kutafia and Trinity towers, Moscow, 2010
Red Square, Moscow, 1872
Red Square, Moscow, 2010
Nikolaevsky train station,
Leningradsky train station
Yaroslavsky train station, postcard
Yaroslavsky train station, photograph, 2010
Yaroslavsky train station before 1902
Yaroslavsky train station,2010
Tsaritsino, The Grand Palace, Moscow, 1990s
Tsaritsino, The Grand Palace, Moscow, 2008
Alexey Mikhailovich palace, engraving
Alexey Mikhailovich palace, photo 2010
Petrovsky palace, Moscow, 1910
Petrovsky palace, Moscow, 2010
Wine and Salt Court, photographed in early 1900
House on the embankment, 2000
Nobility's Assembly Rooms, Moscow, 1895-1903
House of the Unions, Moscow, 2008
Ascention convent, Moscow 1890-1900
Administration of the president, 2000
Red Gates, Moscow, 1920s
Garden ring, Moscow, 2010
Salmanovsky circus, Moscow 1900
Moscow Nkulin circus, Moscow, 2010
'The Thought' by Mercurov on Tsvetnoy bulvar, Moscow, 1926
'St George' obelisk onTsvetnoy bulvar, Moscow, 2010
Moscow city hall, Moscow, early 20th century
Moscow History museum, Moscow, 2010
The Moskva Hotel, photographed in 1970-80s
The Moskva Hotel, photographed in 2010
Ilinka gates, Moscow 1910s
Ilinka gates square, Moscow, 2009
Okhotny Ryad, Moscow, 1931
Okhotny Ryad, Moscow, 2009
The National and Inturist hotels, Moscow, 1980s
The National and Rits Carlton hotels, Moscow, 2010
The Russia hotel, Moscow, 1980
Varvarka street, Moscow, 2010
The house of boyars Romanovs, Moscow, 1905, source: www.oldmos.ru
The house of boyars Romanovs, Moscow, 2010
Skating rink on Chistye Prudy, 1910
Skating rink on Chistye Prudy, 2005
Detsky Mir, 2006
Lubyanka square, 1900-1910
Tsar Bell, Moscow, late 19th century
Tsar Bell, Moscow, 2010