Izmaylovsky Park

Izmaylovsky Park or Izmaylovo Park is one of the largest parks in Moscow, Russia. Park consists of two areas: Izmaylovsky forest and Izmaylovsky park for reacreation. It's situated in the Izmaylovo District in the North-East of the city. The park was inaugurated in 1931, and was known as Stalin Park until the name was changed in the 1961. The northern border of the park is the tram line alongside the Izmailovskaya station of the Moscow Metro that serves the park, the southern is the Entuziastov Highway. To the East the park is limited by the Main alley and to the West by Electrodny proezd and 1st and 2nd streets of the Izmaylovo menagerie.

In 1571-1585 the park was a country estate of a Muscovite boyar Zakharyin-Yuriev. After 1585, the ownership was passed to the Romanov family. Since 1663, it became the official countryside residence of tsar Aleksey Mikhailovich. The very same time the construction and redesign of the estate were initiated.

At first, a dam was constructed on Serebryanka river which resulted in formation of several ponds, namely Lebedyansky, Vinogradny and Serebryany. An artificial island was situated in the middle of the Serebryany pond. Later, the official tsar’s palace was built on that island that existed up until 1855. Christmas church was also built on the Serebryany Island in 1676, which became the cathedral in 1679. There were a lot of gardens with exotic plants and trees, cherished under personal supervision of the tsar. The household buildings also included green-houses, mills, breweries and other facilities. The organization of the household was so efficient that it alone could fully satisfy the needs of the tsar’s court. One of the biggest zoos in Europe at that time could also be found in Izmaylovo manor.

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