Red Square in Moscow is one of the most famous city squares in the world, separating the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and current official residence of the President of Russia, from the historic merchant quarter known as Kitay-gorod. The name 'Red Square' does not derive from the color of the bricks or the link to Communism; instead, it comes from the Old Russian word 'krasnaya,' which meant both 'red' and 'beautiful.' The square is home to the colorful, onion-domed St. Basil's Cathedral, the State Historical Museum, and the GUM department store. For centuries, it has served as the stage for massive military parades, public executions, and historic speeches. It is also the site of Lenin's Mausoleum, where the preserved body of the Soviet Union's founder has been on public display since 1924.