All hail the Bolshoi. Hardly needing any introduction, we'll give it one anyway. Russia's best known theatre without a doubt, this is the sacred home of ballet and opera in the capital. Built in 1824, the Bolshoi recently underwent a complete renovation, the cost of which ran into the hundreds of millions, making it one of the most opulent, but also technically magnificent opera houses in the world. The Bolshoi troupe performs in both the spectacular building on Theatre Square as well as in a second theatre next door (the New Bolshoi Theatre).