All excursion programs for tourists in the capital of our country are similar to each other, like twins. This is a mandatory visit to Red Square and several of the most famous museums, and you only need to step off the paved paths for a couple of steps - and you will see Moscow not at all like in the guidebooks. Of greatest interest is the historical center of the city. It's hard to believe, but here, next to the elite new buildings, old mansions are still preserved. A vivid example of this is Malaya Ordynka Street. Why is it interesting, and what sights can be seen here today?
Historical background
Once all the main roads of Zamoskvorechye stretched from the city center in a southeasterly direction. The modern Malaya Ordynka street, which got its name in honor of the parallel Bolshaya Ordynka, is no exception. There are many variants of the origin of this unusual name. The most popular version is that the streets got their names becausethe Tatar quarter was once located here. Some historians believe that tribute was carried along these roads to the Golden Horde. The street dates back to the 14th century. It was fully formed by the 16th century. Historical buildings have been partially preserved to this day. Today, there are enough old mansions on this street, and modern houses are located next to them.
Where is Malaya Ordynka Street?
The street, parallel to Bolshaya Ordynka, stretches from Klimentovsky lane to Pyatnitskaya street. This is the very center of the capital of Russia - the Zamoskvorechye district. Today, here modern office and retail buildings coexist with historical buildings. On this street, architectural monuments of the 19th century, including old wooden mansions, have been preserved. Malaya Ordynka also has its own metro station, Tretyakovskaya. Today, this street is an ideal place for walking: there are dedicated pedestrian zones, and an abundance of attractions will not let you get bored.
N. A. Ostrovsky on Malaya Ordynka
In 1948 the street was renamed and named after A. N. Ostrovsky. The historical name was returned only in 1992 and remains until today. The famous Russian playwright was indeed born, lived and worked here, it was not without reason that Malaya Ordynka bore his name for some time. The old mansion in which the Ostrovsky family lived has been preserved. Its exact address today: Moscow, st. Malaya Ordynka, 9/12, building 6. Date of construction of this buildingconsidered to be 1810. Today, the house-museum of A. N. Ostrovsky is open for tourists in an old mansion, a significant part of the exposition is devoted to theatrical art. On the facade of the building there is a memorial plaque telling about the life and work of the playwright. Also on Malaya Ordynka there is a monument to Ostrovsky, which is a bust on a high pedestal.
Old sights and monuments of architecture
Once Malaya Ordynka Street was a popular place for representatives of the upper strata of society. Residential estates and tenement houses were built here. Not much has changed today: there are many offices and business centers on this street today, but finding an apartment here is not so easy. From the ancient buildings of great interest is the building of the estate of the Sysalins-Golofteevs, which has the number 12/31. This is a three-story mansion built at the end of the 18th century. If you go further, you will be able to appreciate all the splendor of the profitable houses of L. I. Kashtanov, M. I. Sotnikov and A. A. Durilin. Today they house modern offices and commercial organizations. Malaya Ordynka can also boast of two ancient churches. This is the Church of St. Nicholas in Pyzhy and the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God in Vspolye.
What else to see while walking?
It's not for nothing that A. N. Ostrovsky lived and worked on Malaya Ordynka Street. Today this street is one of the most "theatrical" in all of Moscow. There are two theaters here. One of them is the famous Moscow "Theatre of the Moon", located at the address: Moscow, MalayaOrdynka, 31, in a building built in 1912. And very close is the Russian spiritual theater "Glas". These cultural organizations are related not only by location. Both theaters have relatively small auditoriums, and it is especially interesting and cozy to watch performances here. Not far from the house-museum of N. A. Ostrovsky there is a Theater Gallery. Its exact address: Moscow, Malaya Ordynka, 9/12, building 1. The exhibition hall is located in an old mansion built in the 50s of the nineteenth century.
The historical center of Moscow is a great place for a walk
If the weather is nice outside and you don't know what to see in the Russian capital, head to Zamoskvorechye and you can't go wrong. st. Malaya Ordynka and all those in the neighborhood are a great place for leisurely walks. At every step you can see ancient architectural sights and simply beautiful buildings. Such a walk will allow everyone to escape from the daily hustle and bustle and take a fresh look at the noisy metropolis. The historical center of Moscow is a place where time seems to have stopped, where everything has a special atmosphere. And only modern signs on some houses will allow you not to lose a sense of reality. Thanks to its favorable location, a walk along Malaya Ordynka can be easily combined with a visit to other, more famous sights. And if you get tired of walking, or it starts to rain, you can always go to one of the local cozy cafes and have a bite to eat or drink coffee.
