Red Square

Red Square is a large bricked expanse in the heart of Moscow, just outside the Kremlin on the Eastern Wall.  The Communist Soviet Union used to use this area to parade through and show their might.  Yet Red Square was used well before the days of the Communist Soviet Union.  In the late 15th century the square was called Torg, or marketplace.  People would come here to purchase food, livestock and other items.  In the late 16th century it was renamed Trinity Square and served as the main entrance to the Kremlin.

Not until 1650 did this space receive the name Krasnaya Ploschad.  Krasnaya means both beautiful and red.  Red Square today is more than 500,000 square feet of open space.  It has become a place for people to gather to celebrate state events or just to take a photograph of the gorgeous surroundings. 

Back to the Kremlin.