Mayakovskaya Metro Station. Moscow

In 1937, the station was awarded the Grand Prix at the World's Fair in Paris. Even today, decades later, its architecture and atmosphere are no less stunning.

It was the world’s first deep-level column station, a true sensation of its time and an incredible achievement for the USSR. One of the most interesting features of Mayakovskaya Station is its architectural design. Here, elements of Russian Constructivism and Art Deco are combined, giving the station a unique character.

The steel arches connecting the columns are faced with a rare pink stone – Ural rhodonite.

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Catherine Park and the Geroon River

There is a special place in New Chersonese (picture 1). It may not impress much at first glance, and some visitors even feel a touch of disappointment upon seeing it. Yet, this spot has its own unique charm.

Your attention is immediately captured by the trees, flowers, river, fountains, small bridges, and colorful fish (picture 2). The park has vending machines stocked with food for the fish and swans, and feeding them anything else is forbidden. It would be even better if these machines provided small bags for the food, as carrying the loose treats to feed these little creatures can be quite tricky.

If the colorful fish aren't impressive enough, turn your gaze to the sculptures. Among the bronze statues of Russian cultural figures with ties to Crimea stands a remarkable one: Ekaterina Barinova, the chief designer of New Chersonese (picture 3). Unfortunately, she passed away before the complex opened. To honor her, her colleagues named the park after her and installed her statue there.

One of the project's most extraordinary decisions was to incorporate an underground ancient river into the complex's water supply and to elevate a section of its bed. This discovery happened during the excavation of Old Chersonese's southern section, when archaeologists unearthed a river that had vanished underground centuries ago. Their work proceeded as usual until water suddenly flooded part of the site. It returned even after being pumped out twice. Geologists were called in and discovered it was not merely water, but an underground reservoir—a source that had been there for ages. This prompted a look back at ancient Greek chronicles.

Long ago, the ancient Greeks settled in Crimea and established colonies, one of which was Chersonese. They chose their locations carefully, and a river flowing near Chersonese supplied the entire town with fresh water. Later, when Chersonese became part of the Byzantine Empire, it was in this very river that the Kievan Prince Vladimir and his retinue were baptized, an event recorded in the ancient chronicle, The Tale of Bygone Years. Eventually, the river disappeared underground, remaining hidden until its rediscovery.

The river has recently been named the Geroon (picture 4). This name was proposed by Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov) of Simferopol and Crimea, the patriarch's cultural council chair and the project's mastermind. The name comes from a significant burial site discovered nearby. The archaeological finds suggest it was a hero's burial ground, which the ancient Greeks called a Geroon. Researchers believe it may be the grave of one of Chersonese's first governors.

Now, the Geroon has begun a new life. Instead of flowing hidden beneath the earth, it now beautifies the park and supplies the entire New Chersonese complex with fresh water.

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