Moscow, Russia — Overview
Modern-day Moscow proudly defies its former austere image of Soviet times and Europe's most populous city is currently enjoying an unprecedented period of luxury and self indulgence. Rather than queuing for rations at state-owned department stores, these days well-heeled Muscovites sip champagne with sushi at elitny ('elite') restaurants and window shop for designer labels at frighteningly expensive boutiques. Moscow is also one of the planet's most culturally sophisticated capitals, with world-class institutions like the Bolshoi Theater, the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. The city is also proud of its great writers, playwrights, composers, choreographers, and film-makers. In terms of architecture, Moscow may not have the Baroque perfection of St Petersburg but it does have some extraordinary churches as well as massive edifices from the Stalinist period. However, the most recognizable buildings are, of course, the Kremlin and the almost cartoon-like onion domes of St Basil's Cathedral that tower above Red Square.
