The first subway line was opened in 1935. Today, many of Moscow's metro stations are historical monuments listed as cultural heritage sites.
According to Joseph Stalin, the Soviet metro was supposed to be one of the symbols of the era. Therefore, huge amounts of money were invested in the construction and decoration of the stations. The stunning results justified even the wildest expectations. Thanks to the magnificent stained glass windows, luxurious decor, numerous statues, bas reliefs and mosaic panels, stations can easily be compared to "underground palaces".
Passengers on the Moscow Metro, Russia, 1973.
Waiting for the last train, 1965.
© Sputnik / Boris Kavashkin / Go to the mediabankAn attendant on duty at Mayakovskaya metro station, Moscow, 1980.
An attendant on duty at Mayakovskaya metro station, Moscow, 1980.
© Sputnik / Semenov / Go to the mediabankSwitching lines at the Prospekt Mira metro station, Moscow, 1975.
Switching lines at the Prospekt Mira metro station, Moscow, 1975.
© Sputnik / Boris Prikhodko / Go to the mediabankPeople at a photo display dedicated to space pilot Andrian Nikolaev, 1962.
People at a photo display dedicated to space pilot Andrian Nikolaev, 1962.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Savelyev / Go to the mediabankA special phone installed in the lobbies of stations, where people could get information about the Metro, 1980.
A special phone installed in the lobbies of stations, where people could get information about the Metro, 1980.
Sokolniki metro station, Moscow, 1948.
© Sputnik / Anatoliy Sergeev-Vasilyev / Go to the mediabankThe ground vestibule of Kropotkinskaya metro station, 1972
The ground vestibule of Kropotkinskaya metro station, 1972
Passengers at the Ramenki metro station, 2019.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankAn employee at the Okruzhnaya metro station, 2018.
An employee at the Okruzhnaya metro station, 2018.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Belousov / Go to the mediabankVisitors on the platform of Troparyovo station, opened in 2014.
Visitors on the platform of Troparyovo station, opened in 2014.
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankPassengers in the car of the new thematic train of the Moscow metro called "Science of the Future", dedicated to the Year of Science and Education of Great Britain and Russia 2017.
Passengers in the car of the new thematic train of the Moscow metro called "Science of the Future", dedicated to the Year of Science and Education of Great Britain and Russia 2017.
Rasskazovka metro station, 2018
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Belousov / Go to the mediabankAn entrance to the lobby of Troparyovo station, which opened in 2014.
An entrance to the lobby of Troparyovo station, which opened in 2014.
© Sputnik / Ruslan Krivobok / Go to the mediabankThe vestibule of Dostoevskaya metro station, which opened in Moscow in 2010.
The vestibule of Dostoevskaya metro station, which opened in Moscow in 2010.
© Sputnik / Vitaliy Belousov / Go to the mediabankPeople walk past displays of the virtual store Media Markt that opened at the Vystavochnaya station in Moscow, 2013.
People walk past displays of the virtual store Media Markt that opened at the Vystavochnaya station in Moscow, 2013.
Passengers at the CSKA station, 2019
© Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankPassengers at the Okruzhnaya metro station, 2018.
Passengers at the Okruzhnaya metro station, 2018.