A man passes by St. Basil’s Cathedral, with the air temperature at about minus 25 degrees Celsius (minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit), in Red Square in Moscow, December 24, 2012. Russia endures an abnormally cold winter, the most severe in more than 70 years, according to local media. MIKHAIL VOSKRESENSKY/REUTERS/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: rtrlfive658708
Russia is truly a beautiful place, somewhere that history oozes out of every building. In a city as old as Moscow beautiful buildings show the lifestyles of emperors from the 14th century and tourist attractions show the tombs of the some of the most radical thinkers of this century.
One of the major attractions in Russia is St. Basil’s Cathedral which was built by Ivan the Terrible in the 14th century. Tradition holds that upon completion of the cathedral, Ivan blinded the architect so that he could never create something as beautiful again. However, that story is widely up for debate.
View of Kremlin and St. Basil’s cathedral in the background. Ingram Publishing/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: ipurestockx195029
The Red Square is the very center of Moscow, a place that is closely tied to Soviet Russia as it was the official address of the Soviet government. Vladmir Lenin’s tomb is there – shaped like an Egyptian pyramid. It was built that way with the thought that just as the Egyptians believed in life after death, so many believed that Lenin’s ideas would live on after his death. The square is the center for many military parades – even still today – but the most famous one was in 1941 when the military paraded through Red Square and went straight to the front lines. Upon defeat of Nazi Germany, the German flags were thrown down in front of Lenin’s tomb.
American’s love Russia. Really, what’s funnier than the “Meanwhile in Russia…” trend?
Mar 27, 2010 – Murmansk, Russian Federation – In Murmansk, a hole in the ice of Lake Semenovski held competitions in winter swimming. 87 sportsmen from Moscow and Murmansk regions, Republic of Karelia, Moscow and St. Petersburg participated in competitions in the winter swimming at the 76th of the traditional Feast of the North. Athletes competed for medals in individual types of programs – swimming at 25 and 100 meters, as well as in the mixed relay 4h25 meters. In the mixed relay 4h25 m won Murmansk team advocated by Olga Andryunina, Alexei Kichutkin, Sergei Makarenko and Vitaly Poborchi. In Russia, these people are called – the walrus. Andrey Pronin/ZUMA Press/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: zumaamericasthree507817
In St. Petersburg is the gorgeous Winter Palace. This palace was the original home of the Russian monarchs (think Anastasia here). After the uprising of the working class, the palace was turned into the famous Hermitage Museum. The Hermitage holds some of the greatest works of art in history, including a few original Da Vinci paintings. The inside of the palace is absolutely beautiful, and a treat to even the most uneducated art critic.
Paintings And Arches Inside Winter Palace; St. Petersburg Russia. Design Pics / Keith Levit/Keith Levit/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: depdest009848
Russia has always been a fixture in pop culture, usually as the home for many of the bad guys. Even a new TV series called “The Americans” just started airing on FX about Russian spies who acted and lived as Americans during the Cold War.
Find more pictures of the Motherland these spies were fighting for back at Newscom!
Aug 09, 2004; St-Petersburg, RUSSIA; The Winter palace, also known as the Hermitage Museum in St-Petersburg, Russia. COLORISE/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: zumaamericastwo273589
Moscow (Russia), Red Square.-”Red Square with Basilius Cathedral and the Redeemer Gate”.-Painting, undated, early 20th century, by Avalow. Oil on canvas, 49.5 x 61.5cm. (c) Sotheby”s / akg-images/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: akgphotos087120
Dec. 23, 2010 – Saint Petersburg, Russia – Frozen ice hangs dangerously as it covers a sculpture of Atlantis on the side of the Beloselkih-Belozerskih palace. The roofs of buildings in Saint Petersburg are covered with icicles this winter and are becoming a danger to cars and pedestrians on the streets below. Maxim Zmeev/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: zumaamericasfour049200
A street vendor tries to catch one of his a winter hats which was blown off a stand by a strong wind at the Red Square in Moscow, on December 14, 2012. Moscow temperatures dropped today to -12 C (10 F), but due to high humidity and strong cold wind, weather experts said it would feel more like – 20 C (- 4 F). YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: afplivefour846417
Russian children skate on the open air ice skating rink on Red Square in front of the Moscow’s Kremlin, Russia 26 December 2009. The open air 2,700 square-meter skating rink occupying one-tenth of the Red Square is one of the most popular places in Moscow in winter. SERGEI ILNITSKY/EPA/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: epaphotosthree973096
Jan. 12, 2012 – St Petersburg, Russia – Frosty frozen trees envelope vehicles on a snow covered road during winter season in St. Petersburg, Russia.PhotoXpress/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: zumaamericasfive322004
Ornate building dusted in snow. Les and Dave Jacobs Cultura/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: cuphotos083825
Russian people skate on open air ice skating rink on Red Square in front of the Moscow’s Kremlin, Russia, 27 December 2008. The open air 2,700 square-meter skating rink occupying one-tenth of the Red Square is one of the most popular places in Moscow in winter. SERGEI ILNITSKY/EPA/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: epaphotosthree753066
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Tags: kremlin, moscow, red square, Russia, st. basil's cathedral, st. petersburg, winter palace
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