Location and Origin

Old Square is actually a pedestrian street that stretches from Varvarka to Ilyinsky Gate Square. It represents a green strip on the slope of a hill, where the Kitai-Gorod wall once stood. Originally, Old Square was a passage along the inner side of the wall, while the outer passage was called Kitai-Gorod. After the wall was demolished in the early 1930s, the terrain became more pronounced: Old Square is located higher than Kitai-Gorod passage and Ilyinsky Park, while closer to the Moscow River embankment, the terrain descends.

Famous Buildings

The Kitai-Gorod wall was built in the 1530s under the guidance of the Italian architect Petrok Maloy and was considered one of the best fortifications of its time. After the fire of 1812, which destroyed a significant part of the buildings, new wide passages were laid along the wall. The passage from Varvarka to Ilyinsky Gate became known as Old Square, while from Ilyinsky to Vladimir (Nikolskiye) Gates, it was called New Square. The development of these 'squares' was carried out only on one side, as the other side was occupied by the Kitai-Gorod wall. Until the end of the 19th century, there was a market on Old Square selling various goods, primarily clothing, shoes, and small household items.

The modern development of Old Square mainly took shape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The largest building on the square, the apartment house of the Moscow Fire Insurance Society (No. 8), was built in 1901-1903 according to the design of architect F.O. Shekhtel. The first three floors were rented out for offices and shops, while the upper two housed the 'Boyarsky Dvor' hotel, decorated in the Art Nouveau style.

On the corner with Ilyinka stands the apartment house of the Moscow Merchant Bank (No. 2/14), which was reconstructed in the 1890s by architect B.V. Freidenberg. Various offices and shops were located here, including the management and warehouse of the Danilov Manufactory Society.

The neighboring building (No. 4), the Trading House of V.I. Titov, was constructed by architect V.V. Sherwood in 1912-1915. Before the revolution, it housed furnished rooms 'Ilyinskoye Podvorye'. The building was damaged in 1941, and its facade was restored in simplified forms.

Architect V.V. Sherwood also built the adjacent building (No. 6) for the Trading House of E.A. and E. Armand, a family of well-known merchants and industrialists. The Armands owned several factories and were actively involved in charity.

The last building in the row (No. 10/4) was built in 1898 by architect A.V. Ivanov for the Varvarin House Building Society. Before the revolution, it housed the 'Novovarvarinskoye Podvorye' hotel.

On the corner with Varvarka is the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, built in the mid-18th century and reconstructed in the 19th century. During the Soviet era, the church was closed and used for economic purposes, but it is currently being restored and will soon be opened for believers.

In Soviet times, some buildings on the square housed the organs of the Communist Party, and the name 'Old Square' became synonymous with the highest authority. Today, it houses the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. A few years ago, a fence with a checkpoint was installed along the pedestrian part of the square, and access to the buildings is restricted.