Merchants' Arcade (Gostinny Dvor)

Merchants' Arcade (Gostinny Dvor) Review

This former market, which takes up an entire block between ulitsa Ilinka and Varvarka ulitsa, just east of Red Square, is made up of two imposing buildings. Running the length of Khrustalny pereulok is the Old Merchant Arcade, erected by the Italian architect Quarenghi between 1791 and 1805; on the other side of the block, bordering Rybny pereulok, is the New Merchant Arcade, built between 1838 and 1840 on the site of the old fish market. The entire complex has been renovated and is now an expo center with a number of restaurants and shops, though none of them are worth making a special trip to visit. Besides the facade, the only parts of the building of historical interest are the capacious glass-topped arcade inside and a small exhibition of the structure's old molding and other features, displayed simply in a set of rooms on the western side of the complex.