Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

Situated on Volkhonka Street, southwest of the Kremlin this lovely museum is housed within a fabulous building built under Emperor Nikolas II. Construction first began in 1898 and the Museum was opened in 1912 as a Museum of Fine Arts under the University of Moscow. It was named after Emperor Alexander III. In 1927 the museum was released from the University and was consequently renamed after the Great Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin.

The museum houses a superb collection of art and antiquities ranging from work from Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Gogh to Matisse, Monet, Picasso and Renoir. The museum also exhibits a large collection of tinted plaster casts of famous ancient and Renaissance sculptures in addition to collections of original work from foreign artists and sculptors. There are works of art from Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Rome and the middle Ages. The Alexander Pushkin Museum, a fewblocks away is very different and rather a small affair in comparison. It celebrates the life and career of the Russian poet and houses a collection of his manuscripts and possessions.

Tretyakov Art Gallery

Situated on Lavrushinsky Lane, this museum is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Named after a rich Moscow merchant and textile manufacturer Pavel Tretyakov, who started his own collection of Russian paintings in the 1850’s. Here you can view over 1500 paintings left to the museum by Patel and his brother Sergy amongst other fantastic pieces that have been donated to the museum. The Tretyakov Art Gallery houses some of the finest Russian art and includes religious works from the 12th to 17th centuries and the famous Holy Trinity, a 15th century piece originally housed in the Cathedral of the Trinity.

History Museum

Positioned at the North end of the Red Square, this huge red brick museum makes an interesting visit, if only to understand the amazing collection of diverse people and cultures that made up the Soviet Union. The museum houses ancient relics such as coins, costumes and weapons.

Central Lenin Museum

This museum is situated adjacent to the Revolution Square and was previously the old Town Hall. The museum is dedicated to the life of the Russian leader Vladmir Lenin and exhibits over 12,000 pieces collected from Lenin’s life, including manuscripts, documents, photographs, publications of his work and presents donated to him by his people. In addition to these fascinating pieces, there are sculptures, artwork and graphics all dedicated to Lenin by Soviet artists. The museum has been open since 1924, and named such since 1936. Exhibits are displayed on 3 floors in over 30 rooms and galleries. It is a great insight into Russian history and allows you to understand just how important Lenin was to his people. In 1917 Lenin helped the working people and peasants take the power into their own hands and establish the first socialist state in the world.