Moscow urban hiking: the City district from the Krasnopresnenskaja metro.

The City district is one of the most visible in the entire city of Moscow, today I will take you around the skyscrapers of the largest financial companies in the world, walk-around buildings over 300m high that loom over old residential districts whose fate has already been decided.

The Krasnopresnenskaja metro station is exactly under one of the buildings belonging to the group of the Seven Sisters wanted by Stalin to completely change the face of the new capital. The Kudrinskaya Palace is mainly residential and was intended for the Russian elite. I go down the hill to get to the river and skirt the parliament building I wrote here you about it.

The whole area has been occupied for many years by factories and exhibition centers that have changed size and shape over time. You can still see the old fair center which appears almost microscopic compared to the young neighbors. The skyscrapers of the City began to be built in 2003. Today they are growing fast and in 2024 there is a plan to complete the One Tower which will exceed 400m and 109 floors.

Old houses suffocated by new giants

Just before entering the financial district is the Krasnaya Presnya park which offers the only green space in the area. A small corner of relaxation, silence, and color in the midst of concrete and Maybach. I can’t avoid getting ice cream in one of the many carts that sell snacks and drinks. My favorite is called Eskimo. A historic brand since the times of the Soviet Union. An industrial ice cream on a stick whose flavor you can choose and which is immersed as desired in three types of chocolates that solidify instantly. With this charge of happiness, I immerse myself in the skyscrapers and then go out on the right and cross the old residential districts

These are almost abandoned areas. The houses built in the 1900s have been almost evacuated, fenced off and are ready to be demolished to make room for new skyscrapers and new businesses. In this area of ​​Moscow one can clearly perceive the speed of change that has been sweeping the Russian capital in the last twenty years. As you move away from the City you return to inhabited areas, where the flower beds are kept in perfect condition, the children’s play areas are small castles of plastic and wood and in these first spring days you can enjoy the scent of flowers that have finally blossomed. A sweet, serene, light air. Just walking among finally green plants, apple blossoms and warm air changes the mood and the relationship with the people around. Everyone seems more relaxed, friendly, happy, winter is over. We are in mid-May.

Old industrial area and the town banja

Continuing the walkthrough an industrial area now used as a loft. We are in the Presnensky district and today the typical red brick factories of the early twentieth-century house architecture studios, trendy restaurants, clubs, and one of the largest Banja seen in Moscow. The traditional Russian sauna is more than just a wellness tool, it is a real social meeting point and bargaining tool. It can also be seen from the cars parked in front of the entrance. The valet who takes care of the parking of Maserati, AMG, Maybach, Tesla, Rolls Royce is unmissable … This place is certainly one of the places where great managers relax after spending the day inside the skyscrapers or who knows, it can be just the place where the most important meetings take place, in Italy, they are usually held in restaurants. If you want to know more about the banya, I talked about it here.

Today’s tour is over, I pass in front of the Moscow Zoo, I am not a great admirer of these attractions, and after a brief stop on the benches in front of the subway I get off to take the train that will take me home.

See you on the next walk!