Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
One of the main pilgrimage destinations for photography fanatics, is this modern and com-
petently curated space that hosts frequently changing exhibitions of Russian and Western
photo artists. There is a nice shop selling photo albums and postcards in the premises.
CHURCH
CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE WARRIOR
The finest of all Zamoskvorechie's churches mixes Moscow and European baroque styles,
resulting in a melange of shapes and colours. It was commissioned by Peter the Great in
thanks for his 1709 victory over Sweden at Poltava. The gilt, wood-carved iconostasis was
MUSEUM
BAKHRUSHIN THEATRE MUSEUM
noon-7pm
Tue-Wed & Fri-Sun, 1-9pm Thu ; Paveletskaya)
Russia's foremost stage museum, founded in 1894, is in the neo-Gothic mansion on the
north side of Paveletskaya pl. The museum exhibits all things theatrical - stage sets, cos-
tumes, scripts and personal items belonging to some of Russia's stage greats. The exhibits
are not limited only to drama, also tracing the development of opera, ballet and puppetry.
Highlights include the costumes and stage set from
Boris Godunov
(starring the famous
bass, Fyodor Shalyapin) and the ballet shoes worn by Vaslav Nijinsky.
MONASTERY
DANILOV MONASTERY
The headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Church stands behind white fortress walls. On
holy days this place seethes with worshippers murmuring prayers, lighting candles and
ladling holy water into jugs at the tiny chapel inside the gates. The Danilovsky Monastery
was built in the late 13th century by Daniil, the first Prince of Moscow, as an outer city de-
fence.
The monastery was repeatedly altered over the next several hundred years, and served as
a factory and a detention centre during the Soviet period. It was restored in time to replace
Sergiev Posad as the Church's spiritual and administrative centre, and became the official
residence of the Patriarch during the Russian Orthodoxy's millennium celebrations in 1988.
