Moscow’s “Seven Sisters” Buildings

There are very few, if any, good things that came from the Soviet Union communist control of Russia. However, the "Seven Sisters" buildings in Moscow could be the one exception and they are simply spectacular. Most communist architecture is known for being boring, bland and square. However, the exception to this was Stalin’s attempt to show off the power and dominance of the Soviet Union by building some of the grandest and ornate skyscrapers in the world. It was a classic case of somebody using architecture as a method of communication and the message from Stalin was simple…these buildings will intimidate. It is difficult to explain the architectural elements of these buildings but they usually have some very distinct qualities. They are very big, very Gothic (spires, arches, etc) and very unique. There are seven of these buildings scattered around Moscow and they include Moscow State University, Hotel Moscow, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc. Lindsay and I (especially me) loved it every time we saw one. Almost every time you can get a view across the city you will see one or more of these buildings dominating the skyline. The city of Moscow is already beautiful but the presence of these old communist landmarks gives it a real uniqueness that is all its own. If you ever find yourself wandering through Moscow keep an eye out for Stalin’s “The Seven Sisters” buildings…they are hard to miss. :)