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Maxim Gorky (1868-1936) is one of Russia's most admired writers and playwrights, founding the socialist realism literary method and penning such classics as The Song of the Stormy Petrel - a thinly-veiled call to overthrow the tsar - and Children of the Sun, a play about the privileged intellectual elite of Russia. From 1931 until his death, Gorky lived in a fantastic Art Nouveau mansion in Moscow, which now houses the Gorky House Museum, dedicated to preserving mementos of the writer's life and work. Also known as the Ryabushinsky Mansion, the stunning building was completed in 1906 by architect Fyodor Shekhtel and features opulent columns, winding marble staircases, and intricate floral and mosaic stucco decorations - a surprising level of opulence for a proletarian writer. Gorky's furniture, artwork, and personal items are all on display, but most literary pilgrims make a beeline to his 12,000-volume library, which contains original works by some of Russia's most renowned authors. Pull up a chair, soak in the atmosphere, and return home inspired to write your own great masterpiece. The museum is convenient to three Starwood properties, the Hotel National, Moscow, the Sheraton Palace Hotel, Moscow, and Le Méridien Moscow Country Club.

From Dostoevsky to Tolstoy, Pushkin to Pasternak, Russia boasts a long tradition of great literary heroes. And several of the Moscow homes where these legendary writers lived have been turned into museums. One of the most interesting of these historical residences is the Chekhov House-Museum. Home to the most revered of Russian short-story authors and playwrights, Anton Chekhov, the two-story pink house is filled with a fascinating collection of items, and it's just thirty minutes by foot from the Sheraton Palace Hotel, Moscow.

Chekhov lived here with his family between 1886 and 1890, when he was in his late twenties. Having earned a degree in medicine after moving to the city, he worked as a doctor while maintaining a successful writing career. Visitors can see the original sitting room, Chekhov's study where he wrote his first play "Ivanov," and the writer's own bedroom, as well as those of his brother and sister. The former dining room is filled with an assortment of relics from Chekhov's life including original playbills, first edition volumes of his works, and historic photographs featuring the likes of Tolstoy and Maksim Gorky.

I love visiting the historic homes of famous writers when I travel. Which ones have you seen?

[image via Moscow Taxi]

In the Russian language, bolshoi means big or grand, and those are two words that definitely describe Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre. Home of the legendary Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera, the opulent theater in central Moscow has been one of the world's most famous venues for nearly 200 years. The Bolshoi Opera is renowned for its performances of both Russian and international classics, including the works of 19th century composer Nikolia Rimsky-Korsakov, whose fantastical subject matter was influenced by Russian folklore. But when most people think of the Bolshoi, it's the ballet that comes to mind first, and the Bolshoi Ballet may just be the best in the world. Whether you see a classic three-act ballet like Prokofiev's Cinderella or a contemporary one-act performance such as Leah - which is set to the music of Leonard Bernstein - you'll witness the pinnacle of the form, as it was passed down through generations of lithe, graceful dancers. Starwood has three hotels in Moscow, including the opulent Le Royal Méridien National.

Leo Tolstoy is arguably Russia's most famous writer, and his seminal novel, War and Peace, has been required reading since it was published in the late 1860's. The gripping tale of Russian society during the Napoleonic era - along with Anna Karenina, a stunning work of realist fiction - catapulted Tolstoy from life as a young nobleman to the premier chronicler of the Russian experience. For those who've caught the Tolstoy bug, there is the Tolstoy Museum in Moscow, with memorabilia from his life as well as extensive original manuscripts written in his own hand. Located in a grand Russian Empire-style building on Prechistenka Street, it's an essential stop for any fan of Russian literature. A staff of Tolstoy experts is happy to explain the stories behind the various texts, and gives a regular series of lectures on his life and works. Who knows, the experience might make your postcards home that much more poetic. Starwood has three properties in Moscow, including the luxurious Le Royal Méridien National.

One of the world's finest museums of European art can actually be found a few clicks east of Europe in the Russian capital of Moscow. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts houses Russia's greatest collection of European painting and sculpture, including priceless works by Picasso, Gaugain, and Matisse. Masterpieces from every region and every era is on display here, from the art of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome to Dutch, German, and French art of the 17th and 18th centuries. Perhaps most impressive is the museum's Italian Courtyard, a painstakingly-built reproduction of the interior yard of the Palazzo Bargello in Florence. It's a fitting environment for an exquisite collection of Italian Renaissance art, including a copy of Michelangelo's most famous sculpture, David (pictured). One word of advice on visiting: take a moment to look at the museum's floor plan and make a mental list of the art you're most interested in seeing and then browse the galleries in order of priority. It can be too much to try to see everything in one day, so it's okay to focus on your favorites. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts is convenient to several Starwood hotels, including the Sheraton Palace Hotel, Moscow.