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Now Izmailovo is mainly known for its kremlin and vernissage. It is there that Moscow center of Russian souvenirs was moved from the Old Arbat. The Izmailovo kremlin was built so that tourists could dive into the atmosphere of an ancient Russian town. And it must be acknowledged that its architects quite succeeded in it.

Nearly all buildings of the Izmailovo kremlin are wooden and some of its walls are made of stone. There you can see the Palace of Russian Meal, the Church of St. Nicholas and several museums, as well as handicraft workshops. The kremlin itself is surrounded by a wall with mighty towers. All this was built by the drawings of the tsar`s residence of 16 century.

The trading rows of the Izmailovo Vernissage are at the foot of the hill where the kremlin is located.  There you can buy various souvenirs, as well as many authentic old things. The Vernissage is divided into several areas: the alley of painting, the street of trades, the street of folk crafts, the flea market and the street of antiques.

If you go along the shore of Serebryany (Silver) pond as far as the Izmailovo island, you can see a quite different Izmailovo. In 17 century Izmailovo was a small village located rather far from Moscow. Izmailovo was the family estate of the Romanov dynasty who had ruled over Russia since 1613.

To our days there survived the buildings of the time of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich. It was under that tsar the Serebryanka river was blocked by a dam and the island was created where the summer residence of Izmailovo was located. To our days on the island there remained the Intercession Cathedral (1679), the Gates of the Tsar`s Court (1670) and the Mostovaya (Bridge) Tower (1671). 

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The Izmailovo Kremlin in the Old Russian style. 
The Izmailovo Kremlin as viewed from Silver-Grape Pond.
The Palace of the Russian Meal at the Izmailovo Kremlin.
The Church of St. Nicholas at the Izmailovo Kremlin.
A Russian doll (matryoshka) is the most popular souvenir from Russia. 
The trading rows at the foot of the Izmailovo Kremlin.
Watch towers over the trading rows of the Izmailovo Vernissage.
The Mostovaya (Bridge) Tower and the Intercession Cathedral of the Izmailovo Estate dating back to the times of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich.
The Back Gates of the Tsar’s Court (1670) at the Izmailovo Estate.
The Front Gates of the Tsar’s Court (1670) at the Izmailovo Estate.
The maquette of the Tsar’s Court at the Izmailovo Estate.
The monument of Peter the Great in front of the Intercession Cathedral at the Izmailovo Estate.
The registry office on the territory of the Izmailovo Kremlin.
The table with a Russian bear at the Vodka Museum of the Izmailovo Kremlin.
A monk at the first illegal still. Monasteries were the first to produce vodka in the Rus`.
In 1430 they began to dilute Genoese vodka with water.
Tent-shaped towers and domes of the Izmailovo Kremlin.
Two towers at the main entry to the Izmailovo Kremlin.
The entrance of a tavern at the Izmailovo Kremlin.
A passage between the palaces of the Izmailovo Kremlin leading to the registry office. 
A small pond at the Izmailovo Kremlin.
Russian fur hats (shapkas) at the Izmailovo Vernissage (Market).
The book sales points at the Izmailovo Vernissage.
Watch towers over the trading rows of the Izmailovo Vernissage.
The street of crafts at the Izmailovo Vernissage.