METRO AND ARBAT
STREET TOUR
Moscow Underground (or Metro as it
is called in Russian) makes that
of the great western capitals look
tawdry in comparison. It is
already 66 years old. The first
line opened on 15 May 1935. The
Metro was turned into an
underground kingdom of socialism.
The stations became luxurious
palaces of the new social order,
and they are breathtaking in the
originality of their architecture,
sculptures and mosaics.
With over 150 stations throughout
the city, the Moscow Metro is an
unparalleled example of
architecture and design.
Refreshingly free of graffiti,
some of these beautifully
constructed stations, are
frescoed, marble faced and even
have some works of art. Although
constructed by a tyrant for people
living in terror, this
subterranean proletarian paradise
offers an ironically humane vision
of public social space, both
beautiful and functional. The
Moscow underground, with its over
200 kilometers of track, serves 10
million people each day and is
perhaps the most extravagant
architectural phenomenon of the
Stalinist era. The metro is cheap,
easy to use and by far the
quickest way to manoeuvre around
the city. The layout is
comprehensive and simple which
means there is no excuse not to
see any of Russia's amazing
sights.
Many stations worth checking out —
a few in particular are as worthy
of a visit as any sight in the
city. Mayakovskaya Station,
completed in 1938, features a
central hall supported by lovely
stainless steel and red marble
columns, which soar up to a
ceiling festooned with socialist
realist mosaics. Other notable
stations include Ploshchad
Revolyutsii, where the passageway
arches are supported by vivid
sculptures of Red Army soldiers,
and Kropotkinskaya Station, with
its elegantly-columned platform
and upper galleries.
Arbat street
Arbat Street is one of the oldest
streets in Moscow. The word arbat
(d) is of oriental derivation and
means suburb.During the second
half of the 18th century when most
of the neighboring streets were
becoming a fashionable
aristocratic area, Arbat Street
was the only local shopping
center. Many of its shops have
been preserved from those times.
Many great writers, artist and
painters lived on Arbat Street and
houses have been carefully
preserved. For example: Alexander
Pushkin, Alexander Blok (the
famous Russian poet), the famous
composer Skryabin and others. Also
there are situated the Vakhtangov
Drama Theatre, Shchukin Drama
School and the Opera Studio of the
Moscow Conservatoire etc.
Returning to Arbat Street you can
see on the left the Prague
Restaurant famed for its Czech
national cuisine. Ahead lies Arbat
Square once more where this
itinerary comes to an end.)
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