Monastery was founded in 1462. It was transferred here from the Kremlin and, that is why, received the word New to the old name (Saviour). The Cathedral of Saviour was built there to resemble the Cathedral of Dormition of the Kremlin. This cathedral was the burial place for the family of Romanovs, the family of the last tsars of Russia.

The monastery was built as fortress to protect Moscow but it was never tested in this capacity. Novospassky Monastery is very well preserved monument of Russian history.

Now it is once again functional monastery so if you wish to go inside you should be clothed accordingly: long sleeves; skirt and head covered by kerchief or headscarf for women; not covered head for men.

Be sure to go around the monastery. There is small pond an monastery stays on a small hill over it. The view is very nice.
If it is summer and the weather is nice I recommend to go to Moskva river and make boat trip.
And again, if you have some time you could visit Krutitskoye Podvorye, small monastery situated nearby. You'll see it's cupolas going from Metro station to Novospassky Monastery, look on the left.

St. Andronicus Monastery is beautifully located on the high bank of Yauza River. The Monastery was founded in 1360. It is known that Andrei Rublev, the famous Russian painter, was a monk at the St. Andronicus Monastery. It is supposed that the main cathedral of the Monastery, the Spassky (Saviour) Cathedral was built in 1425-1427, in compliance with the architectural planning carried out by Andrei Rublev. This white-stoned Cathedral has been recently transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church and is currently used for religious ceremonies. All other structures at the territory of Monastery belong to the Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Culture and Art.

Simonov monastery was founded by the end of the 14th century. Like the Nowospassky Monastery, it was under the direct control of the Patriarch of All Russia.

The territory of St. Simon Monastery preserves the ancient Church of Our Lady (16th century). It was built instead of the old, wooden church, where the heroes of Kulikovskaya battle, monks Peresvet and Oslyabya were buried. There is also a so called "New" chapel built in 1677-1685 and decorated by white-stoned ornamental details, the angular tower "Dulo" built by architect Fyodor Kon in the 16th century. The walls and towers of the Monastery were built in the 17th century. There are also some other structures dated by later periods.

Church of the Deposition of the Robe (Tserkov Rizpolozheniya)is the lowly white church with a splendid design.

In soviet times it was named ulitsa Razina (Razin Street)
It is the most ancient street in Moscow and dates back to the 14th century. In old times it was region where artisans and skilled craftsmen lived. After the 15th centurythis region began to transform into a region of the privileged nobility. Here boyars built their estates and foreign embassies took up residence.
Varvarka goes from one of exits of "Kitai Gorod" Metro station to the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed. A walk along Varvarka Street will take a short time. You may do it in any direction - from Metro station to the Cathedral and then to Red Square and to the Kremlin. Or back from Red Square.
Note that now (summer 2006) the Rossia Hotel that was between Varvarka Street and the Moskva River has been dismantling and then some new buildings will be constructed there.

Lets walk along Varvarka from it's beginning (note that in Moscow all streets begin in point nearest to the Kremlin).
On the right-hand side of the street you'll see some gems of old Rus­sian architecture, and to the left are the buildings of the former inns and trading rows of the 17th-19th centuries and monotonous multi­storey buildings of the late 19th century.

Interesting buildings (going from the Kremlin, right-hand side.)

(No. 2) is the Church of St. Barbara (from which the street took its name in the 16th   century) rebuilt in 1796-1801.
A bit behind the church is an interesting white-stone building with narrow, asymmetrical window apertures and a steep wooden roof. This is the Old English Court or, as it is still known, the English Town House, where visiting English mer­chants and diplomatic envoys used to stay. Its role in Moscow's history dates back to 1556.

(No. 4) is the Church of Maximus the Blessed. The existing building was constructed in 1698-99, and is interesting as a monument of the transitional period in religious ar­chitecture. The characteristic fea­tures of a 17th-century Moscow church are combined with decora­tive devices reminiscent of the Western European Baroque.
The bell-tower with a green cupola (1829) in front of the Church of Maximus the Blessed is a marvelous example of late Classi­cal architecture.

(No. 8a)  A stepped slope leads to the Znamensky Sobor (Cathedral of the Sign) — a massive structure of red brick. There is a concert hall in the cathedral with splendid acoustics where one can enjoy concerts of old Russian mu­sic. This cathedral is one of the structures of the former Zna­mensky Monastery ensemble, founded in the 17th century.

Nearby at No. 10 is the so-called Chambers of the Romanov Boyars. Two of its storeys are visible from the street, while all three can be seen from the courtyard. This building houses the museum "Chambers of the 16th-17th Cen­turies in Zaryadye", a branch of the State Historical Museum.

The last of the series of monuments of the Russian ar­chitecture on Varvarka Street is the Church of St. George at No. 12, which draws attention with its highly decorative and colorful ap­pearance, gilded central cupola, and four surrounding cupolas with stars against a blue background. The church was built in 1657.

Patriarch's Palace is the former residence of the Russian Tzars

Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed (the Cathedral of the Intercession, known as St.Basil Cathedral) is a beautiful and unique creation of Russian national art.

Armoury Palace (Oruzheynaya palata)conceals a staggering array of treasures behind its Russo-Byzantine facade, among them the tsars' coronation robes, carriages, jewelry, dinner services and armor - whose splendor and curiosity value outweigh the trouble and expense involved in seeing them. The palace also houses the State Diamond Fund (Almazniy Fond), which contains the most valuable gems in Russia.

Tsar Bell (Tsar-kolokol) is the largest bell in the world, cast in 1655.

Cathedral of the Archangel Michael (Arkhangelskiy sobor) was built in 1505-08 as the burial place for the rulers of Muscovii. In the spirit of the Italian Renaissance it has four heavy square pillars take up much of the dimly lit interior, which is covered in frescoes. Around the walls and pillars cluster the tombs of Russia's rulers from Grand Duke Ivan I to Tsar Ivan V.

Cathedral of the Annunciation (Blagoveshchenskiy sobor)is the golden-domed cathedral, which served as the private church of the grand dukes and tsars. Restored in 1562-64, the cathedral is lofty and narrow, with an interior that seems far more "Russian" than the other Kremlin cathedrals. It also houses some of the finest icons in Russia, with works by Theophanes the Greek and Andrei Rublev (a famous Russian icon painter).

Museum of the Seventeenth Century's Life and Applied Arts displays ecclesiastical regalia, period furniture and domestic utensils.

Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles is painted flesh-pink and demonstrates adventures of the Twelve Apostles.

Sobornaya ploshchad (Cathedral Square)is the historic heart of the Kremlin, surrounded by a superb array of buildings that give the square its name.

Moscow Kremlin is the most famous landmark of Russia.
What is the meaning od word "kremlin"? In old Russia kremlin was fortress, the most protected part of town, it's heart.

If you wish to see and admire the Kremlin as an architectural ensemble go to the opposite bank of the Moskva River and you'll see beautiful panorama of this gem of Russian architecture.
Go from Red Square down to the river and then onto the Moskvoretskii bridge over the Moskva River. Don't forget to look back from time to time - the view is ever changing.
Then go along the river and admire ever changing view of walls and towers with their reflection.
When you come back to the kremlin side of the river over Great Stone Bridge (or Bolshoi Kamennyi most in Russian) stop for a moment on the highest point of the bridge.

Now you are ready to go and see the Kremlin in detail. Go from the Great Stone Bridge along the kremlin wall to the Kutafya Tower. It is the tower that stays alone and is connected with the Kremlin by a stone bridge. Nearby is ticket office. Be prepared for a long que, especially in summer. If you have bulky bags you'll have to leave them in luggage office (downstairs beneath the ticket offices). It will cost you $1 if you leave a backpack, $2 if you leave a camera or video camera.
For more information about tickets and opening time go to the "Information" section of the official web-site.
Note: Thursday is the day off. (summer 2006) The Kremlin is sometimes closed to the public during state visits and other important ceremonies.
Note: Big part of territory of the Kremlin is closed for public.

Going through Kutafya Tower you'll walk onto a stone bridge with a crenellated parapet and proceed to the Troitskaya (Trinity) Tower. The big modern structure to the right of the Troitskaya Tower is The State Kremlin Palace. The long two-storey building to hte left, along the Kremlin wall is The Arsenal.

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The Cathedral was built with the money collected by the people all over Russia in the 19th century. It had been under construction for about 40 years! And it was destroyed (exploded) by communists at one day of 1932. Today the reconstructed dome of the Saviour Cathedral is clearly seen from many places of Moscow. Recently the works completed and now the Cathedral receives its second life. Now it has the official status of the main cathedral in Russia. Aleksiy the Second, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, performs services in the Cathedral and the sessions of Divine Synod are also be held there.

Cathedral of the Assumption (Uspenskiy sobor)is the oldest and most important of the Kremlin churches, which has symbolized Moscow's claim to be the protector of the seat of Russian Orthodoxy ever since the seat of the Church was transferred here from Vladimir in 1326. The cathedral was rebuilt in 1479 by the Bolognese architect Alberti Fioravanti, and its subsequent history reflects its role as Russia's premier church, used throughout Tsarist times for coronations and solemn acts of state. Given the cathedral's exalted status its exterior is remarkably plain, while the interior is spacious, light and echoing, its walls, roof and pillars entirely covered by icons, and frescoes applied onto a gilt undercoating. Though still a museum rather than a place of worship, the cathedral is used for religious services, albeit rarely.

Everyone visiting Moscow has to visit it's heart - Red Square. It is one of most famous places not only in Moscow but in Russia.

Red Square stretches broadly along the eastern wall of the Kremlin. It is 695 meters long and has average width 130 meters.

The architectural ensemble of Red Square developed gradually over the centures. In 1555-61 the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed (the Cathedral of the Intercession, known as St.Basil Cathedral) was built on the river side of square. The Cathedral is unique and beautiful creation of Russian national art.
Next to the Cathedral stands the monument to Minin and Pozharsky.
Not far from the Cathedral is what is called the Lobnoye mesto, a round platform of white stone built in 1534. Here the tsar's edicts were proclaimed and religious ceremonies held.
To the right of the Cathedral is the Spasskaya (Savior) Tower of the Kremlin, which has long become one of the symbols of Moscow.Side of the square opposite to the Kremlin is occupied by long building in old-russian style. It is Upper Trading Stalls, known for all Muscovites as GUM. Now you'll find there many shops as well as some nice cafe, restaurants and fast-food.
The fourth side of Red Square is occupied by the red brick building of the State Historical Museum. To the left of the museum stands the Nikolskaya (St.Nicholas) Tower of the Kremlin. To the right of the museum is Iberian Gate (Iverskie Vorota). And more to the right, at the north east corner of Red Square, is Kazan Cathedral.
At the central part of the Kremlin wall on Red Square is the Lenin Mausoleum.

Tsar Cannon (Tsar-pushka)- cast by Andrei Chokhov in 1586, is one of the largest cannons ever made and was intended to defend the Savior Gate - but it has never been fired.

Ivan the Great Bell Tower (Kolokolnya Ivana Velikovo is the fourteenth-century the magnificent White Square provides a focal point for the entire Kremlin, being the tallest structure within its walls.