Walking Moscow – 3. Capital Squares

Step into the atmosphere of the capital’s key spaces—ten central squares that, for centuries, have been the heart of Moscow’s life, trade, and culture.

Mikhail Zhebrak is a lifelong Muscovite, a guide, author, and host of the program “Peshkom” on the TV channel “Culture,” and the creator of books about Moscow and the Moscow Region.

The third book in the popular series “Peshkom po gorodu” is devoted to ten of Moscow’s main squares and offers captivating stories about each of them. In the old, tightly built city, a square was not merely an open plot between buildings, but a real public center: people traded there, celebrated religious holidays, and held city festivities. Over time, new squares appeared on the sites of former defensive esplanades, and they went on to become favorite places for walks and meetings.

A square is not only an expressive part of the cityscape, but also living proof of history. Its transformations reflect the fate of more than one Moscow—indeed, of the entire country. The book tells about architectural masterpieces connected with these places, as well as famous people whose lives and events became inextricably tied to them.

Open Moscow from an unexpected angle! Vivid illustrations and detailed maps at the beginning of each chapter will make your journey through the book even more engaging. Discover something new, get inspired, and go for a walk around the capital’s central squares to see with your own eyes the places where the city’s history took shape.