Red Square in Moscow, (in Russian Красная площадь, Krásnaya plóshchad ‘). Most famous square in Moscow.
Location
It is located at 550 45l 15 0 north latitude and 370 37l 120 0 east latitude, next to the eastern wall of the Kremlin , in the commercial district known as Kitay Gorod (which means Chinese city).
Moscow’s Red Square is the most famous in Russia and one of the most popular in the world, next to Tiananmen Square in Beijing . Currently it separates the seat of the Russian government (Kremlin) and from it the main avenues of Moscow start, which later become highways that run throughout the country.
Territorial expansion
It occupies 74,831 m² and is surrounded by the Basilica of Saint Basil , the Assumption Church of the Kremlin , the Lenin Mausoleum , the History Museum and department stores.
History
The area where the square is located was originally populated by wooden buildings, but it was remodeled by Ivan III of Russia in the 14th century , as they were susceptible to burning easily.
The new square served as a place for markets, later for public ceremonies and proclamations, even to crown the tsars. It was the nerve center of Moscow.
The name Red Square does not come from the color of the bricks, or the walls that surround it, rather it derives from the Russian word Красная (Krásnaya), which means red , but in old Russian it meant pretty , that is, the square pretty .
In the early years of its history, Red Square was designed as a market. It served as a center for commerce and for the exchange of information among residents. Over time, it became a place that was used as an official site for announcements, executions, and other sponsored events.
In the Soviet era, Red Square was used for victory parades, speeches, and state events. In the square are the Gallows , the monument to Minin and Pozharsky , in addition to the world famous Lenin Mausoleum and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (monument in honor of all those who fell in the fight against fascism and it is unknown where), in which lies the inscription “Unknown is your name, immortal is your feat . “
In the Kremlin wall are buried great figures of the USSR , such as the leader José Stalin , the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin , former presidents of the USSR, some senior military leaders and others.
Red Square was also the scene of other important events in Moscow, as a place where the most important news, religious activities, etc. were announced. During Soviet times it was the scene of the festivities of the October Socialist Revolution and of the victory in World War II , with significant military parades.