Moscow was first mentioned in the records dated back to the year 1147. So it was founded more than eight centuries ago by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky. Historians have accepted the year 1147 as the start of Moscow’s history. At that time it was a small frontier post at the edge of Suzdal lands.

By the 15^th century Moscow turned into a wealthy city. In the 16^th century, under Ivan III, Moscow became the capital of the State of Moskovy.

At that time the Kremlin was rebuilt and the largest Kremlin Cathedrals were erected. Under Dmitriy Donskoy the Kremlin was built of white stone. During the reign of Ivan III the walls of white stone were replaced by new redbrick walls and towers. The Prince invited Italian architects to construct the Cathedrals. The Assumption Cathedral was built in 1475-79. The Russian Tzars and Emperors were crowned there. The Archangel Cathedral was the burial place of the Russian Princes ad Tzars. The Annunciation Cathedral was erected in 1484. It is famous for the icons painted by Andrei Rublev and his apprentices.

On the territory of the Kremlin you can see old Cathedrals, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the Palace of Congresses, the Tzar-Canon and the Tzar-Bell, the biggest cannon and bell in the world.

The Kremlin is the heart of Moscow. It is the oldest historical and architectural center of Moscow.

One of the favorite places of tourists in Moscow is Red Square. You can see there a monument to Minin and Pozharsky in Red Square. During the Troubled Times Moscow was occupied by the Polish invaders, but they were routed by the popular levy headed by Minin and Pozharsky. St. Basil’s Cathedral was built in the mid-16^th century in memory of the victory over Kazan.

Though Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1712, Moscow remained the heart of Russia. That is why it became the main target of Napoleon’s attack. Three-quarters of the city were destroyed by fire during Napoleon’s occupation, but by the mid-19^th century Moscow had been completely restored.
Moscow became the capital again after the Great October Revolution.
Now Moscow is the capital of Russia, its political, economic, commercial and cultural center, one of the largest cities in Europe. Its total area is about nine hundred square kilometers.

According to the Census of 2009 year the population of the city is about 10 500 000 people.

Moscow was one of the most expensive cities in the world from 2006 to 2008. In 2009 because of the crisis it gave up the place to Japan’s cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

Moscow is a port of five seas, as the Moscow-Volga Canal links Moscow with the Baltic, White, Caspian and Black seas and the Sea of Azov.

It is necessary to mention such famous monuments as monuments to the great Russian writer Alexander Pushkin and to the first printer Ivan Fedorov.

Visiting the capital of Russia a lot of foreigners from all over the world come to see these monuments.

One of the highest buildings in Moscow is the State Moscow University. It was founded in 1755 by the great scientist Mikhail Lomonosov.

Nowadays in the center of the capital (Krasnopresnenskaya station) Moscow International Business Center (MIBC) “Moscow City” is built. The project of creation of this center is the biggest of the existent and being realized at present Projects of Russia and Europe, the decision of creation of which was made by the Government of Moscow in the beginning of 90-s.

Because Moscow is a very big city, its transport must be comfortable and fast.
You can see a lot of cars (about 3.5 millions cars), trolley-buses, and trams in the streets of our city. The Moscow subway began its work on the 15^th of May, 1935. There were 13 stations at that time. Now it has 190 stations. Moscow’s subway is very beautiful and convenient.
There are nine railway stations in Moscow and five airports around the city.

Moscow is a city of students. There are over 80 higher educational institutes in it, including several universities.