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Moscow - the name carries many images and thoughts: parades in Red Square with tanks rumbling through; cold, snowy winters, and unsmiling faces. To the romantic adventurers, it is home to the KGB, Lenin, the mafia and more. To the youngest generation, Moscow may even be known as a city of nightlife. Winters may be cold here, but that's about the only stereotype you will encounter. Summers are bright and warm, and a walk down the Arbat, Moscow's famous pedestrian mall, or in the many city parks, will introduce you to many a Muscovite smiling, enjoying the street entertainment and the company of friends. Moscow is a city of contrasts. Greys mix with sharp elements of brightness and color in a way that reflects much of the country's turbulent history. The past, present, and future of Russia is seen in the many faces of the buildings and the people of Moscow. The past is found in the scars and memorials from invading armies, from the yoke of the Mongols to WWII, and in between - the Poles and Napoleon. Despite the negative influence of foreign invading armies, foreigners have also brought with them ideas, ideas that Russians have built upon to make them truly unique. Beautiful domed churches dot the skyline despite 80 years of official state atheism, and architectural designs can be found dating back hundreds of years. In fact, archeological discoveries have shown that humans have inhabited this region for thousands of years. Some of these are on display at various museums. Moscow became the most important city in the USSR, and became a focal point for the struggle of ideologies. With the breakup of the USSR, a new form of thinking was put into place, one that has brought with it 10 years of economic disarray. Changing overnight from a totally state-controlled system into one of free enterprise was bound to cause some problems, and nowhere more so than Moscow can this be seen. The rich are very rich here, and the poor are poor, the small middle class is only now starting to recover after the financial crisis of 1998 and even grow, and so things are on the upswing again. All hopes are placed in President Putin, and the recent warming of relations between Russia and the west should bring positive change even faster. People are feeling good, and although history nearly erased the word "optimism" from the Russian dictionary, it finally is taking root, and that is very exciting. Programs Available in Moscow: Russian Studies Semester - All levels Russian Studies Summer - All levels NEW! Russian as a Second Language (RSL) - All levels Russian Civilization Summer - All levels Intensive Russian Summer - Intermediate NEW! Language as a Career - Advanced The future then looks bright for Muscovites, but it is a future that is not always shared with their fellow citizens in regional towns and cities. Moscow is both the heart of Russia, and yet non-representative of the state of most of the country. In Moscow there are so many interests to explore it is almost impossible to list them all. Student's Guide to Moscow Travel from Moscow Programs at Moscow State Universtiy Other Recommended Moscow universities: Moscow International Higher Buisiness School (Institute) Moscow State Institute of International Relations V. I. Nemirovicha-Danchenko School of the Chekov Moscow Art Theatre Surikov Moscow State Academic Art Institute For more universities, click here Find Out More! Study Russian in Russia SRAS Travel Services Internships in Russia Subscribe to The SRAS Newsletter More on Regions and Cities in the FSU Free Resources for Understanding Russia Train from St.-Petersburg: 8 hours     Plane from St.-Petersburg: 2.5 hours Population: 11.1 million print this page email this page