Russian President Putin Meets with Tajik President Rahmon

The Kremlin is a historic fortified complex in the heart of Moscow, Russia. Originally constructed in the 12th century, it has served as the residence of Russian rulers, from the Tsars to the current government. Today, it is the official residence of the President of Russia and a UNESCO World Heritage site containing cathedrals, palaces, and museums.

The Red Square is Moscow’s central square and a historic symbol of Russia’s political and cultural life. It dates back to the late 15th century and has served as a marketplace, a site for public ceremonies, and military parades. The square is bordered by iconic landmarks including the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum.

The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic Russian theater in Moscow, renowned for its world-class ballet and opera performances. It was founded in 1776 and the current iconic building, with its famous neoclassical facade and statue of Apollo’s chariot, opened in 1856 after several fires destroyed previous structures. It remains a premier symbol of Russian cultural arts.

The State Tretyakov Gallery is a renowned art museum in Moscow, Russia, founded in 1856 by merchant Pavel Tretyakov. It houses one of the world’s largest collections of Russian fine art, spanning from early religious icons to masterpieces of the 19th and 20th centuries. Tretyakov donated his extensive private collection to the city of Moscow in 1892, forming the basis of the national museum.

The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, is one of the world’s largest and oldest museums. Founded in 1764 by Empress Catherine the Great, its vast collections are housed in a magnificent complex of historic buildings, including the Winter Palace. Today, it displays over three million works of art and artifacts spanning from prehistory to the modern era.

Peterhof is a series of palaces and gardens located in Saint Petersburg, Russia, often called the “Russian Versailles.” It was founded by Peter the Great in the early 18th century as a grand imperial estate to celebrate Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea. The site is most famous for its spectacular fountains, including the Grand Cascade, and its lavish palace interiors.

St. Basil’s Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, is a globally recognized symbol of Russia located in Moscow’s Red Square. It was built from 1555 to 1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of the cities of Kazan and Astrakhan. Its unique and colorful ensemble of chapels, crowned with distinctive onion domes, makes it a masterpiece of Russian architecture.

The Lenin Mausoleum is a monumental tomb located on Red Square in Moscow, Russia. It serves as the resting place of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union, whose preserved body has been on public display since his death in 1924. The mausoleum became a major pilgrimage site and a potent symbol of the Soviet era.