Moscow's prestigious cemetery Novodevichi
is the resting place of who's who in russian politics, culture, science, military and other walks of life.
To mention just a few : Khrushchev, Yeltsin (politics), Chechov, Gogol (writers), Prokofiev, Shostakovich (composers), Oistrach (violonist), Rostropovich (cellist), Shaleapin (opera singer), Galina Ulanova (ballet dancer), Tupolev (scientist).
surrounded by a black and white structure
Anton Chechov Fedor Shaleapin
Two wives of famous politicians seemed to attract a lot of visitors: Nadezhda Alliluyeva, Stalin's second wife ( committed suicide) and Raisa Gorbachev, wife of Mikhail Gorbachev ( died in a german hospital after a 2-month struggle against leukemia).
Nadezhda Alliluyeva
Raisa Gorbachev
(A female statue is overlooking the grave; at the back- tiles that cover ashes in the wall).
The Novodevichi cemetery looks more like an exhibition of sculptures: bronze sculptures, marble sculptures, sculptures depicting accurately the deceased and their profession; life size statues or just busts. A huge variety of styles, materials , colors.
Luckily, my knowledge of the russian alphabet helped me with reading the names on the headstones. At a certain point I also followed a guided group, and so I managed to visit most of the famous graves.
Many trees and bushes lining the alleys and the rows, as well as flowers near the graves - soften the rigidity of marble, bronze and stone used in the building of the monuments.
