Moscow Subway

Moscow subway is one of the sights really worth seeing. The subway stations are also known as "Moscow underground palaces". Indeed palace splendour of vestibules and halls confirms that saying. More than twenty types of marble and many other rocks (labradorite, granite, porphyry, onyx) were used during the building of the metro. Statues, relieves and imposing ornamental compositions (paintings, mosaic, stained-glass windows and murals), created by outstanding artists of our country, decorate the solemn underground complex. The first subway line was put into operation on May, 15 1935. Architects and builders of Moscow subway wished to create not only comfortable, but also individually attractive stations. "Mayakovskaya" station, put into operation in 1938, is considered to be one of the most beautiful stations. It was the first columnar station sunk to a great depth. Its supports are made of metal and tiled with granite and stainless steel. The domes are decorated with mosaic panels, designed by a famous artist A. A. Deineka. In 1937 at the International exhibition in Paris the first line stations of Moscow subway were rewarded with the prize for the underground urbanism. And "Mayakovskaya" station was awarded the Grand-prix. Metro stations "Mayakovskaya", "Kropotkinskaya", "Teatralnaya", "Prospekt Mira", "Kurskaya - radial" and other are among the most interesting architectural monuments of 1930-1950. Some of them are under official state protection. The new-built stations are characterized by the utmost simplicity and strictness. Schemes, automatic information machines and light indicators help us to orientate ourselves in Moscow underground.