It was once called “the market” and “the conflagration”; it hosted a wild lion pit and a tram line; it has a historical shopping mall standing opposite a cemetery for the Soviet elite. It’s all about the Red Square in Moscow.

Ilyushin Design Bureau went down in history by designing the most-produced combat aircraft ever and the favorite jet of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Contrary to popular belief, more Russians are drinking wine than vodka these days, and this may have something to do with an abundance of excellent wine bars in the Russian capital.

After over a decade of being exposed to bad Russian pop music since I first arrived in the country from the UK, I recently dared to venture into the scene with earplugs ready – and was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of good Russian music – from rock to hip hop to electronic – finally hitting the airwaves!