Danilov Monastery stands on the right bank of the Moskva River and is one of Moscow's oldest monastic sites. Founded in the late 13th century, it has served since 1983 as the headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Church and the official residence of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus'.
The monastery is worth a deliberate stop for its religious importance, historic churches, and quieter setting south of the central sightseeing circuit.