Moscow: The megacity of cathedrals, chess, and merriment

The charms of Moscow aren’t obvious at first glance. Below towering skyscrapers, remnants of the country’s Soviet past remain. In the Ostankinsky District, the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman statue depicting a couple holding a hammer and sickle keeps history in sight. Moscow is the largest megacity in Europe; the capital of a country that spans continents; as well as one of the most populated urban sprawls. Yet within the thrums of crowds, there are hints of merriment and beauty. Beyond the frosty streets and mirrored buildings, vibrant icons of culture and architecture reveal an alternate Moscow. The locals here even have a national penchant – playing games.

Chess has been well-loved in the country since the 1917 Russian Revolution, after Vladmir Lenin took this royal favourite and promoted it among the masses in an effort to abolish elitism. During the bitter winters, it provided people with a pastime that improved critical thinking and is still taught in schools today. The country now boasts the most grandmasters in the world. Treated with pride, chess is popular in parks across the city and played daily on sidewalks, bonding strangers over a sense of intrigue and fun. While the duel of intellect carries out over the black and white tiles, another dance is revered in this country. Russia is a global leader in ballet. At the Bolshoi Theatre, the art is passed down through generations. But there’s one attraction which Muscovites have brought to new heights. Acrobats, cabaret performance, and clowns create an extravaganza at the Nikulin Circus as they have for more than 100 years, and through the travelling Great Moscow Circus, they take the city’s talent worldwide.

The ultimate spectacle of Moscow is St Basil’s Cathedral, locally known as the Pokrovsky Cathedral. This masterpiece is comprised of a central church with nine others surrounding it. Four of the churches are laid out like compass points, while the rest are situated diagonally, forming a star shape when viewed from above. The final church honours the cathedral’s namesake. Established in the 1700s, these buildings feature whimsical domes which were inspired by a passage in the Bible describing heaven. This sanctum sits in the Kremlin, which is the oldest part of the city. Dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is home to several significant pieces of architecture. Beneath the gold domes of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Russia’s tsars were crowned into power. The Cathedral of the Annunciation showcases frescoes painted by Andrei Rublev, considered to be Russia’s most famous iconographer.

While Russia’s past of revolutions and dictators may have painted a rough image of the country, the sport, art, and astonishing works of architecture reveal a spirit of pride which is a true reflection of its people. There is delight to be discovered in Moscow. Simply look into the details.