Recently in Russia Category

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.

The Snow Maiden only comes out during the cold, dark, magical months of winter, when the earth is covered in sparkly white. With Grandfather Frost at her side, she delivers presents to children all over Russia. Fortunate revelers have a very good chance of sighting the enchanting pair at one of the Winter Festivals held each year in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novgorod, and other major cities around the nation.

In Russia, Christmas falls on January 7, and the celebration begins two weeks prior. Guests of the extraordinary Le Royal Meridien National in Moscow can attend one of the region's most splendid Winter Festivals. Until January 5, the cold air at Moscow's Izmailovo Park will resound with music and merriment, as locals, warmed by vodka, join in on the singing and dancing. Visitors can ride in a troika, a sleigh pulled by three horses, or prance around a New Year's tree. Plenty of pancakes, caviar, bagels, and other Russian foods will be on hand. While you're in town take in a performance at the Bolshoi Theatre. Ballet fans should not miss a Russian Nutcracker, and opera lovers will want to catch Tchaikovsky's Iolanta.

Moscow is a city of great contrasts, at once racing into the future while always maintaining its roots to its noble history. This snazzy overview of the best Moscow sites to visit in 2007 comes our way from The New York Times. Visitors might want to begin their tour with some fine art. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts has one of the world's greatest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works, including paintings by Picasso, Matisse, and Monet. For an overview of what's going on in Moscow's art scene today, drop by the Vinzavod. This 200,000 square foot exhibition hall (pictured) is attracting showings from the city's finest galleries, and creating much buzz in the international art community. After perusing the art, take a stroll through Izmailovsky Market, which is a great place to find those classic Russian souvenir items such as nesting dolls, carpets, and lacquer boxes as well as antiques of all kinds. Then it's snack time, and a great spot for a bite in today's Moscow is Volkonsky. This charming French bakery has delicious sandwiches that you can take for a picnic in nearby Patriarch's Ponds park. As day turns to night, the action in this glimmering city is just heating up. Bilingua Club is a popular destination for the modern bohemian intelligentsia and those who love them, and is a great spot to enjoy live music and even livelier political debate. Another popular club is a large venue called Ikra (caviar). This hotspot features live Russian and international stars, and a dancefloor that's packed until dawn. Starwood has three great properties in Moscow, Le Royal Méridien National, the Sheraton Palace Hotel, Moscow, and Le Méridien Moscow Country Club.

[image via The New York Times]