Red Square is the main symbol of Moscow and of Russia as a whole. This place is almost without fail visited by every guest of the capital. Red Square is located on the north-eastern side of the Moscow Kremlin and is limited to several buildings, which are the most valuable architectural monuments.
Red Square Dimensions
Currently, this is one of the few places in Moscow that are a pedestrian zone. It is strictly forbidden to drive here. The size of Red Square in Moscow is actually very large. Its length is 330 m, its width is 70 m. That is, its total area is 23100 m2. Of course, this is a lot. Today it is the largest square in the capital. Tourists usually get here by metro. You should go out at the Teatralnaya, Revolution Square or Okhotny Ryad stations. Everyone who wants to join the ancient culture of Russia is allowed here without hindrance. Paved Red Square paving stones.
History
So, what size of Red Square in Moscow, we have found out. Now let's look at when it was formed, and why it has such great historical and social significance. This square appeared in the capital as a result of, oddly enough, just a sad event. Once upon a time there was a posad on this place, the houses in which were mostly wooden. In 1493, a fire broke out here, destroying almost all buildings. Later, this territory was banned from building. This decision was made in order to protect the walls of the Kremlin. For a very long time this territory in Moscow was called Fire.
After some time, enterprising merchants built benches on the eastern side of the square. Despite the prohibitions, trade was conducted on the square itself. Therefore, its name was changed to Market. At that time, the square was divided into three parts by the cobbled streets of Ilyinka, Varvarka and Nikolskaya. In the 15th century, the Intercession Cathedral and the Spasskaya Tower were built here. The site adjacent to the temple began to be called Red. Later, this name spread to the entire area. It was officially enshrined in 1661 by royal decree. According to the description made in 1782, the size of Red Square in Moscow was 135 fathoms in length and 75 in width.
sights
The most notable places in Red Square are:
Pokrovsky Cathedral
Sometimes this building is called the Cathedral of St. Basil. However, historians consider this to be somewhat incorrect. In fact, only one of the extensions of the church, built in 1588 over the burial of the saint, is considered to be the Church of St. Basil the Blessed. The cathedral itself was built in 1555 under Tsar I. Grozny in honor of the capture of Kazan. It is not known for certain who his architect was. According to one version, it was built according to the project of the Pskov architect Yakovlev Postnik. Some historians also believe that the architect of this temple was an unknown Italian master.
Currently, Pokrovsky Cathedral is a branch of the State Historical Museum. Divine services are held only occasionally. This temple is one of the Moscow structures included in the UNESCO List.
Monument to Minin and Pozharsky
The size of Red Square in Moscow (the photos on the page confirm this) is actually large. And there are really a lot of attractions. Near the Pokrovsky Cathedral is a monument to Minin and Pozharsky. It was established in 1818 in the presence of a large number of people and the emperor himself. The model of the monument was developed by the sculptor Ivan Matros. First, the group was placed in the very center of Red Square, opposite the modern GUM. It was transferred to St. Basil’s Cathedral only in 1931. This decision was made by the Soviet Government due to the fact that the group interfered with the parades.
State Department Store
The GUM building was opened on Red Square in 1893. Initially, it was the famous Upper Trading Rows in the capital. The project of this grandiose at that time building in the pseudo-Russian style was developed by architect A.N. Pomerantsev. During the years of Soviet power, the GUM building was supposed to be demolished. But, fortunately, this did not happen. In 1953, the State Department Store was opened here. In 1992, it was privatized. However, the name GUM was retained.
State Historical Museum
The dimensions of Red Square in Moscow are such that on one side (short) it was once possible to place another large and very famous building - the State Historical Museum. The scale of the exposure of this complex is most impressive. Visitors have the opportunity to inspect exhibits displayed in 39 rooms located on two floors. The museum presents the history of Russia, from ancient times to the 20th century. The construction of the building itself continued from 1875 to 1881. This museum opened its doors to visitors in 1883.
Lenin Mausoleum
The most important square in the capital is not only a large historical center. Among other things, a rather large necropolis is located here. It was formed not so long ago - in Soviet times. In those years, there was a tradition of storing urns with the ashes of famous politicians in the Kremlin wall. The first demonstrative ideological funeral on Red Square took place in 1917. Then the Bolsheviks, who died during the revolutionary events in Moscow, found their last refuge near the wall. In 1919, Y. Sverdlov and M. Zagorsky, who became victims of the terrorist attack, were buried here.
And, of course, the most important part of the Kremlin necropolis is the mausoleum of them. Lenin, which is almost an Egyptian pyramid with the mummy of the "pharaoh" inside. In Soviet times, thousands of people flocked to this small building in order to see with their own eyes the "leader of the peoples." The size of Red Square, as we have already found out, is very large. The length of the line could go far beyond. People who wished to see Lenin expected this moment for several hours, only occasionally leaving to rest on benches and lawns in the Alexander Garden.
The mausoleum was built in 1930 from reinforced concrete. In 1945, a tribune for politicians was built on it. This building is currently open to visitors three times a week.
Kazan Cathedral
This magnificent building is located at the intersection of Red Square with Nikolskaya Street. In 1625, in honor of the victory over the Polish-Lithuanian invaders, the Kazan Church was built here. But unfortunately, after a few years - in 1634, this wooden building was destroyed by a fire. After that, it was decided to erect a new temple, this time from stone. After the revolution, the Kazan Church was destroyed. In 1993, the temple was restored in its original form.
Frontal place
The dimensions of Red Square are quite large, and there is a separate historical part on it, called Lobnaya. It is located on the south side and is mistakenly considered the site of executions. In fact, this part of the square was always holy for the Russians. Executions were indeed carried out here, but only in exceptional cases. Most often, all sorts of tsar's decrees were simply announced at the Forefront, the appointment of the patriarch was announced, announcements of the beginning of the war were made, etc.
During religious festivals, a procession was held around this part of Red Square. It is not known for certain who first introduced the tradition of holding large-scale social and church events in this place. Scientists have only facts that it is mentioned in chronicles since 1549.
The Spasskaya Tower
This structure, although not related to Red Square itself, plays an important role in the architectural appearance of this place. The Spasskaya Tower was built in 1491 according to the project of the Italian architect Solari. The gates located below are considered the main ones in the Kremlin. In past centuries (the size of Red Square in Moscow has always been rather large), various kinds of restrictions were in place. For example, men could not go through the Spassky Gate in a headdress. Also, they were not allowed to ride through them.
On the Spasskaya Tower there are chimes well known to all, already traditionally considered the symbol of the New Year. The very first hours at the top of this building were installed in the 16th century. The chimes decorating the tower today were made in 1852. In 1917, during a revolutionary event, a shell hit the clock. They were restored a year later. Since 1937, chimes were started using special electromechanisms.
Size of Red Square in Moscow in hectares
Thus, the length and width of Red Square, which housed just a huge number of attractions, are 330 and 70 m, respectively. This plot is very large, and therefore it is often measured not in meters, but in hectares.
So, what is the size of Red Square in Moscow in ha? Within historical boundaries, this indicator is neither more nor less - 4.6 hectares. Borders are located in width - from the Kremlin wall to the GUM, and in length - from the Place of Execution to the Nikolsky Gate.
Thus, you now know what the size of Red Square is in meters and hectares. This place is really very significant for our country and, of course, very large. To visit it and learn a lot of interesting things about the history of Russia, of course, every tourist should.