Arbat . Interesting facts .
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Arbat street

The Arbat is a true symbol of old Moscow, and has recently celebrated the 500th anniversary. Its name was first mentioned in the city chronicles in 1493.

The word Arbat can have the Slavonic roots – gorbat , humpy means hilly ground.

The word is sometimes linked with the Arabic word  arbad meaning suburb. 

In the 15th century the Kremlin was regarded as the city proper. In those days the Arbat was the place where caravans of goods from the East would stand, and the Arabic word could well have been assimilated into the local language. Nearby there were many slobodas - Khlebny(Bread), Skaterny(Tablecloth),Serebryany (Silver),   Plotnikov(Carpetners). In the 18th century Arbat became one of the most aristocratic streets of Moscow.                                .                                                                          Nowadays it is famous for its old shops, lanes.