Established in a protective bend of the Moscow River, Moscow has been inhabited for well over a thousand years. The first historical record of Moscow relates to the signing of a peace treaty by Prince Yury Dolgoruky (long arm) in 1147. Dolgoruky is aclaimed as Moscow's founder since he order the building of wooden walls around the settlement in 1156. This walled settlement was later to become the heart of today's Kremlin.

Moscow, today, is a city of over 9 million people and extends way beyond those original walls. Moscow has given birth to some of the highest levels of human achievement in arts and science. The city has seen  invaders come and go and its many layers stand as a window on a thousand years of human history.