To walk down the oldest street in Moscow is to experience the most historical kilometer of the city. It is cleary something that everyone who goes to Moscow must experience first hand. One must also understand that 'Arbat' not only means this historic street but also a series of fascinating by-streets and small lanes around the Arbat. The unique color and climate of the Arbat pulsates with the inner spirit of old Moscow. Walking through this fascinating labyrinth of twisting small streets with old Russian names enables one to feel the uniqueness of Moscow as no other area of this huge metropolitan sprawl. If you know anything about Russian history you will recognize many of the most famous names from Russian history.
The very name 'Arbat' is not only very old but is also very unusal. The name was derived from merchants who traded with Oriental countries back in the early 14th and 15th Centuries and who designated the suburbs where they lived and carried out commercial activities the 'Arbat'. Unfortunately the old wooden structures that were of that era burned down in a series of fires. During the latter half of the 18th Century the nobility of the city forced the merchants out of the area and turned it into the most prestigious area to live. It was not until 100 years later that the richest merchants returned and turned the area back into a center of business activity. One thing is sure, you will not only be able to find anything under the sun there that can be purchased in Russia, but you will find it in the most interesting circumstances that you can imagine.