Souvenirs

The most popular souvenirs to take with from Moscow are crafts and applied art products made entirely by hand. These are nesting dolls (Matreshka), lacquer boxes, Pavlovo Posad woolen shawl, Orenburg down shawl, fur hats (Shapka-Ushanka), jewerly items, crystal engraved and wooden painted eggs, artistically hand-blowed glass figuriness, communist-era military souvenirs.

In the city center you can find these traditional Russian crafts at the small market next to Maneshnaya Square, GUM, TSUM, in numerous souvenir shops in Old Arbat Street.

The largest market in Moscow specialized in fine and decorative arts, traditional Russian crafts, antiques and souvenirs is Vernisage in Izmailovo. Vernisage is a town of craftsmen from all regions of Russia. Here one can find famous traditional Russian art and crafts such as Khokhloma (wood painting), Gzhel (ceramics painting), Fedoskino (lacquer boxes), Palekh (miniature painting), Kholui (lacquer miniature), Dymkovo toys (moulded painted clay figures), etc. On the territory of Vernisage there is a Blacksmith Yard where the professional blacksmiths create their masterpieces. It's situated on the territory of Izmailovo Kremlin, near Izmaylovski Park, metro station Partizanskaya.

To see a large collection of Russian crafts and to buy some articles as a souvenir you can at The National Cultural Centre “Russian Gift”. “Russian Gift” presents a fascinating collection of more than 20000 genuine certified articles of Russian handicrafts from all over the country on the total area of 3500 square metres. Here you can visit Russian Arts and Crafts museum, attend handicraft classes, interactive folk shows, etc. The Centre is situated in Zorge Street, metro station Polezhaevskaya.