All of the matrioshka dolls, lacquer boxes and Soviet memorabilia that you can handle, as well as some truely beautiful linens and crafts. Vendors are friendly and many of them speak English.
Metro: Izmailovski Park, from here follow the crowds.
Hours: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily.
The towers of the Kremlin in Izmailovo attracts many tourists who come to make shopping on the famous Vernisazh (or Art City, Craft Market), where customers can find a wide range of Russian souvenirs at the best prices in city. Big market with a lot of vendors is only during weekends, but if you came on Wednesday, you might be lucky to buy a favorite gift for you and the price will be even cheaper as usual. On this day many of artists and craftsmen sell their works wholesale to the vendors who have the same business in different places of Moscow city, as like Old Arbat or Sparrow Hills, or even they will be reselling the same goods here at the end of the week.
From the time when these beautiful towers of the Kremlin in Izmailovo were founded in 1990s and later was built a miniature of the stronghold of Russian town from mediaeval times, it was many fires in this wooden fortress and on the market. In 2006, almost all buildings inside the Kremlin were reconstructed and now they look as like brand new. When I walked inside this impressive Russian wooden fortress with my clients, many of them told me that they have feeling of being in Russian Disney Land.
Most tourists only make it as far as the enormous souvenir market in the park's corner, but the park itself is well worth deeper investigation. Take the metro to the next stop (simply called Izmailovskaya) past the market, and stumble off the train into a maze of trails that wind among dense forest, hidden ponds, and gurgling streams. Wooden pavilions scattered through the park house picnickers or clusters of chess players in heated play. It's a superb spot for cross-country skiing half the year if you have your own equipment, or for biking or hiking in summer.
I took inside a huge craft market in the Kremlin of Izmailovo (Art City), you can see very nice examples of wood carved Ded Morozes and even one small Snegurochka (Snow-Maid) between them. By preserved tradition from Middle Ages, these masterpieces are carved with a hand in wood of lime. The average price for these gifts (if they are hand carved and painted by good artists with the fine details) can vary from $50 to $300 and depends of the size of the subject.
1. Legends & History:
From Slav legends and tales we know that he freezes the water in rivers and lakes, sends winter snowstorms and wraps tree-branches in hoarfrost. Gradually the severe giant who used to freeze lonely travelers to death transformed into a kind grandfather and king of winter forests sparkling with "diamonds, silver and pearls". He lives in an ice palace and sleeps on a bed of snowflakes. Always wearing his traditional round hat embroidered in silver and his long coat trimmed with white fur, white-haired and white-bearded, he came to symbolize wisdom, justice, wealth and happiness. His miracle-working, crystal-silver stick is a symbol of power.
Another unique New Year's character existing only in Russian culture is Snow-Maid, Grandfather Frost's granddaughter and first aide. A Russian fairy tale says once, during a holiday, as she jumps over a fire along with other children, Snow-Maid melts and turns into cloud. Normally, Snow-Maid wears a blue coat trimmed with white fur and a crown decorated with silver and pearls. She helps her grandfather entertain children at New Year Tree parties.
