The origins of Moscow as a symbol of Russian spiritual and political power are over 800 years old. It is therefore not surprising if today this city is the barometer, as well as the source, of the numerous changes that Russia has experienced over recent years. The city’s overwhelming energy and size - Moscow is Europe’s biggest city – are a direct consequence of the collapse of communism and the efforts made by its inhabitants to reinvent their lives. Nowhere in contemporary Russia are contrasts so visible: ancient monasteries alongside hyper-modern buildings, new millionaires in limousines overtaking old communist-era Lada cars. Moscow is also a city where different cultures converge. Its architecture and population are tinted by that enchanting oriental colour that enhances its status as capital city, and its position as a major crossroads between West and East.