The Central House of Artists and the new Tretyakov Gallery

The enormous Central House of Artists contains two extensive galleries under the one roof. Not only does it frequently host international exhibitions and collections of modern works, but it is home to the new Tretyakov Gallery and its unrivalled collection of Soviet art. The Tretyakov's main exhibition centers on Russian art of the 20th century, and encompasses everything from the avant-garde and constructivist canvasses of the 1920s, to the garish Stalinist kitsch of the 1930s and the "new wave" underground art of the 1960s and 1970s.

The collection boasts some enormous works by the monumental and much celebrated artist Ilya Glazunov and a number of notable Malevich sketches and canvasses, including the controversial "Black Square". The gallery's exhibition is impressive in its scope and the sheer size of some of its canvasses and is an essential stop for anybody interested in modern art. The Tretyakov hosts regular temporary exhibitions, many of them in conjunction with St. Petersburg's State Russian Museum. One of the exhibition halls offers a stunning view across the Moscow River to the impressive glistening golden domes of the newly built Cathedral of Christ the Savior, so don't forget your camera! The entrance to the new Tretyakov is located on the eastern side of the building.

While you are visiting the museum don't forget to have a quick look around the adjacent Sculpture Park, located just around the back of the Tretyakov building. The park was initially started as a "Graveyard to Fallen Monuments" of the Soviet era and included an impressive statue of the notorious head of the Cheka secret police Felix Dzerzhinsky, which stood outside the Lubyanka until it was toppled in 1991, and an enormous statue of Stalin. Today, however, there are very few remaining soviet statues and much of the park is devoted to sculptural works by contemporary Russian artists. The park is open 10am - 9pm and entrance is free.