Built in memory of the emperor Peter I, who reigned the nation for 43 years, the monument faces the Moskva River and is the 8th highest statue in the world, standing at 98 meters (322ft) tall. Besides the statue, you can also enjoy a beautiful view over the river around the area, as well as spot some boat traffic.

Locals call it La Manquita — 'the one-armed lady' — because only one of its towers was ever finished. Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, the cathedral mixes Renaissance design with a Baroque front. It actually sits on the site of a former mosque, and you can still spot a few traces of that. There's a long-running rumour that money meant for the second tower went to support the American War of Independence — not confirmed, but it’s part of the local lore.

Several religious buildings surrounded by a wall make up the monastery, set amid a park on the Moskva River bank. To grasp the importance of the place throughout the course of Russian history, visit the Novodevichy Cemetry, where many prominent Russians found their final resting place, from literary behemoths (Chekhov and Gogol) to politicians (Boris Yeltsin). The monastery has remained near-intact since the 17th century.