Gingerbread-like complex in the Old Russian style provides a dozen unusual museums and souvenir workshops. It is one of the fairytale places of Moscow that bring you to the world of Russian traditions and handicrafts.
Do you think, the Kremlin is surely a defensive ancient fortress, constructed in the Middle Ages? The Kremlin in Izmailovo is an utter antithesis to this description. It is brand new, built from the late 1990s to 2003, and does not protect from any enemies, but you can have a good time and entertain with interest here.
A visit to the Izmailovo Kremlin will be first of all interesting to children. Walking across the Kremlin area makes you feel as if a character of an animated film in the spirit of The Tale of Tsar Saltan: multi-colored roofs and figured turrets seem to have been made of dough and sugar. As a rule, the most memorable thing for kids after visiting the Izmailovo Kremlin is the time spent in the Russian Toy Museum and, of course, the local arts and crafts workshops. Visitors will observe creation of a rag doll, making of soap, chocolate, and pottery and will have a chance even to try their wings at these engrossing handicarfts. A child will happily remember such unique experience for many a long day.
However, there is something to do in this fancy place for adults as well! Thus, quite amusing is the Vodka Museum, as well as the Bread Museum with lots of funny and cautionary stories on the subject matter.
In the area of the Izmailovo Kremlin you will find an assembly of unusual little shops, which offer various souvenirs, from the valenki (traditional Russian felt boots) to special chests for keeping a bride's dowry. By the way, the Izmailovo Kremlin is especially popular among the bride couples. Inside the complex there is an operating marriage registry office. The wedding arranged here is called "Imperial" and includes traditional Old Russian ceremonies and celebrations.
Well and, of course, the Kremlin cannot do without traditional Russian cuisine! In the Izmailovo Kremlin there are dozens of restaurants, cafe and taverns with the traditional cuisine. The grandest of them — the Russian Feast Palace - can dine about one thousand people at once.
Address: 73, Izmailovskoye Highway, Moscow
Read about other fairytale places of Moscow.