This guidebook contains a wealth of cultural information on Moscow and St. Petersburg and the regions surrounding them, including the Golden Ring, a series of ancient Russian towns set in the stunning countryside around Moscow. As the symbolic heart of Russia, Moscow, which celebrated its 867th anniversary in 2014, has enjoyed a renaissance as one of the world’s great cities. The capital’s streets now buzz 24 hours a day, and joint ventures between east and west have already opened plush new hotels, internationally stocked shops, and well over 1,000 eating establishments. Her sister-city, St. Petersburg, host of Russia’s Golden Age and cradle of revolution, and surely Russia’s soul, celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2003.
