Arbat street

The first historical records of Arbat date back to the year of 1493. It is highly probable that the street name originates from the Arabic word for "suburb" as in the 15th century only the Kremlin was regarded as the city proper, while this area witnessed many a great caravans arriving from the East. This way an Arabic word could well have been assimilated into the local dialect. In the 19th century Arbat turned into a favourite neighbourhood for nobility of Moscow and creative intelligentsia. In the mid 80-s Arbat became the first Moscow's pedestrian street, the Old Arbat. Over the years the street has developed into one of the most popular places in Moscow with various souvenir shops, cafes, cultural centers, etc. This is a peculiar area of many small streets and lanes with beautiful 18-s and 19-s century mansions, museums and shops.