In the very center of the capital there are witnesses of significant events of the past and places where the present is being made – the Kremlin and Red Square. Ancient and unique, beloved and mystical – these places have long become not just business cards of Moscow, but also symbols of the country. Seeing the sights of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square is task number 1 for any tourist.
Grand Kremlin Palace
One of the visiting cards of the capital known far beyond the borders of the country – the Grand Kremlin Palace – is located along the embankment of the Moskva River. The modern palace was built under Nicholas I by a group of architects led by K.
The tone on the site of the once existing structures of the times of Ivan III and Elizabeth Petrovna. The majestic building is equal in height to a 15-storey building, and in terms of the occupied area it is more than 3 football fields. The complex includes the newly erected building of the palace, Faceted, Tsaritsyn and the Armory, Terem Palace and churches.
Behind the exquisite facade of the palace there are about 700 rooms, including 5 order halls, front and living rooms of the imperial family and service rooms. The main attraction of the palace, which is now the residence of the president, is luxurious interiors with unique parquet, gilding and marble.
Cathedrals
The Moscow Kremlin is a treasure trove of Russian art and spirituality. Its separate component is unique cathedrals, of which only 8 have survived.
St. Basil's Cathedral
The brightest and most unique of the existing temples is St. Basil's Cathedral. The peculiarity of the temple built in 1561 is in the unique chapters, none of which repeats the drawing of the other, all 10 are completely different. The temple was not always so colorful.
Initially, the building was made of white stone and brick, and in the 17th century. its domes and walls were decorated with colorful patterns. With what this is connected, it is not known for certain how and who exactly erected the temple. There is a version that the architect was Nikolai Postnik, nicknamed Barma, or they were 2 different people.
The cathedral consists of 10 churches built on the same foundation. In the center is the Church of the Intercession, which gave the cathedral its second name. There are 4 large churches around it, indicating the cardinal directions, and 4 more between them. The entire ensemble is surrounded by a bypass gallery.
Cathedral of the Archangel
Standing apart among the Kremlin churches is the Archangel Cathedral. Built in the XIV century. it will not stand out either by the luxury of the exterior or the richness of colors. The ceremonial building in the Renaissance style was originally built as a tomb and is dedicated to the archangel, both the features of architecture and the choice of decor elements are subordinate to this.
According to the tradition of temples built in honor of archangels and saints, the five-domed cathedral is crowned with silver helmet-shaped domes and only the central dome is a gilded hemisphere. The façade, originally painted to look like red brick and later repainted white, is adorned with intact pilasters, capitals, rosettes and arches.
The interior has undergone significant changes. Unique frescoes remained only at the burial place of Ivan the Terrible. The sights of the cathedral are an icon depicting the Archangel Michael, and the “Blessed Sky” and 56 graves of princes and kings.
Blagoveshchensky cathedral
Among the many Kremlin churches built by Italian masters, the Annunciation Cathedral stands out for its architecture. It became a monument of Russian architecture, combining the features inherent in the Moscow and Pskov schools.
Built as a house church in 1489, the cathedral was completed and decorated until the 1560s, when it acquired its modern look. By this time, the 3-domed cathedral, surrounded by porches, was replenished with more churches and galleries, and now it is crowned with 9 domes.
One of the cathedrals most beloved by princes and tsars is distinguished by luxury from the floor of jasper and agate and the most beautiful iconostasis to the golden cross, which Napoleon never found, and the mechanical clock, the prototype of the Moscow chimes. The cathedral is full of mysteries.
These are tsats – crescents under the crosses of domes, and miraculous icons. One of the secrets is the images of Greek philosophers on the porch, among other works by the icon painter Edikeev, who was entrusted with painting the temple. Now services are not held in the temple, there is a museum here.
Assumption Cathedral
The Assumption Cathedral is one of the main Moscow churches and undoubtedly one of the most controversial. It is still unknown why the Pskov architects, whose relics lie at the foundation of the cathedral, and many other things, abandoned its construction.
In 1479, at the direction of Ivan III, on the site of the temple of I. Kalita, the Assumption Cathedral was erected, which was destined to become the most important temple for 6 centuries. It was crowned, elevated to the dignity, served prayers, swore allegiance and announced state acts. In the Assumption Cathedral, the first of the Romanov family was crowned, and Count L. Tolstoy was excommunicated from the church.
The construction was entrusted to the Italian Catholic Fiorovanti, who coped with the task by erecting a temple that attracts attention with a strict facade and golden helmet-shaped domes. Behind the seeming simplicity of the architecture are hidden innovative techniques that made the cathedral outstanding. Now it houses a museum, but festive services are also held.
Ivan the Great belltower
The Ivan the Great Bell Tower is an amazing complex that was built for about 3 centuries, from 1505 to 1815. It included the Assumption Belfry with the Filaret Annex and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower itself. The bell tower appeared first, which served for 3 nearby cathedrals.
Then it was a little lower than now. Almost a century later, under Boris Godunov, the last tier was built on. With a height of 81 m, the bell tower became the tallest building in the city, which it remained until the end of the 19th century.
In 1552, the Assumption Church was erected near the bell tower, which was rebuilt into a belfry. In 1624, Filaret's extension appeared near the belfry.
The latter were destroyed during Napoleon's retreat from Moscow, and rebuilt much later. Now museums are located in the bell tower, and going upstairs, tourists get to one of the best viewing platforms in the city, from where an amazing view of the Kremlin opens.
Verkhospassky Cathedral
The Upper Savior Cathedral cannot be confused with any other – its roof is decorated with 11 drums with golden domes. The temple is a complex of house churches built right in the Terem Palace.
The origins of the cathedral go back to the 17th century. to house churches, when in 1627 Catherine's Church was built on the female half of the palace. A few years later, the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands with a chapel of John the Baptist was erected for the tsar and princes in the male half.
By the middle of the century, the church of St. Evdokia appeared above Catherine's, which would later be re-consecrated in honor of the Resurrection of the Word. And above the chapel they erect the temple of the Exaltation of the Lord or the Crucifixion. United all the temples Osip Startsev during the reconstruction.
Domes were placed on the roof, mounted on drums painted with tiles by masters from the New Yersaim Monastery. The appearance of the cathedral has changed little since then, but the interior has lost a lot.
Church of the Twelve Apostles
The Church of the Twelve Apostles is the home church of the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, which adjoins the Patriarchal Palace.
It was built under Patriarch Nikon, who invited the most famous architects and painters to decorate it. Its beauty and wealth, not inferior to the Terem Palace with temples, became the reason for the disgrace of the patriarch. The Church of the Twelve Apostles is the last of the temple buildings of the Kremlin. Its architecture repeats the elements of the cathedrals surrounding it, combining them into a single ensemble.
After the abolition of the patriarchate, the temple gradually deteriorates. Significant damage was inflicted on it in 1917. Now, in the only church in the city dedicated to this holiday, there is a museum, as well as in the palace itself. The unique painting that adorned the walls of the temple has almost not been preserved, but a rich exhibition of icons is offered to the attention of visitors.
Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God in Blachernae
The modest one-domed Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Mother of God in Vacherna is a memory of the miracle that became possible thanks to the Robe of the Mother of God. The Tatars who attacked the Kremlin, whose first attack was beaten off by those besieged in the Kremlin, for some reason left, leaving the loot.
In memory of this, a wooden temple was erected, which burned down in a fire. Pskov craftsmen built a stone church in 1486, which became a home for Russian patriarchs and metropolitans. But with the advent of the Temple of the Twelve Apostles, its role changes, it becomes another palace church. It is being rebuilt, the open porches are being turned into covered galleries, along which the tsarina follows to the Assumption Cathedral.
The church was badly damaged twice: during a fire in 1737 and shelling in 1918. During the restoration, the wall painting was restored, which, together with the iconostasis, gives the church an intimacy. The museum of Russian sculpture is located on the gallery of the restored church.
Museums
In 1991, a museum-reserve of the same name was founded from several state museums of the Kremlin. It included:
Armouries
The Armory is a centuries-old legacy of Russian tsars and patriarchs. The first mention of it dates back to 1547, only then it was called the Armory Order, which included the Great Treasury, where all the jewels were stored, the Armory with weapons, uniforms and banners, the Stable Order with crews and the Workshops.
The modern Armory occupies 2 floors in the Grand Kremlin Palace. Its exposition is located in 9 halls and presents more than 4 thousand exhibits of arts and crafts.
Works of masters not only of Russia and Europe, but also of the East are exhibited here. Among them is a unique collection of thrones, the largest collection of state regalia, rare weapons, art objects of “pre-Mongolian” Russia, etc.
The most famous exhibits of the exhibition are Monomakh's hat, Faberge's eggs, the throne of Ivan the Terrible, Peter I‘s ceremonial attire, etc.
Diamond fund
The Diamond Fund is a separate exposition exhibited in the Armory, which is part of the Gokhran of the Russian Federation. The beginning of the collection collected in the fund was laid by Peter I, who by his decree recognized the treasures in the royal chambers as state treasures.
Coronation regalia, jewelry, if necessary, were issued, and then returned to the Diamond Cabinet, and then the Armory. After the revolution, many precious exhibits of the fund were sold.
Today, the collection of the Diamond Fund consists of about 70 exhibits, including historical stones, gems, diamonds, nuggets, orders and a unique collection of crowns. Visitors will be able to see the famous Orlov diamond, a Colombian emerald, a 9-kilogram Camel nugget, large and small imperial crowns, etc.
State Historical Museum
The building of red brick, located in the northwestern part of Red Square, attracts attention due to its homogeneity with the ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin. Since 1883, the Historical Museum has been located here, the expositions of which will tell about the history of Russia from ancient times to the present.
On 2 floors of the museum in 39 halls, 22 thousand exhibits are placed in chronological order, which is less than 1% of the entire museum fund. Passing from hall to hall, visitors from primitive society find themselves in our days.
Among the exhibits there is a canoe carved out of wood, mammoth tusks, a religious building made of plates, medieval armor, orders, etc. The interiors of the museum, which Aivazovsky, Repin, Korovin and others worked on, are also of value.
towers
The Moscow Kremlin has the shape of a triangle, at the top of which there are round towers (Beklemishevskaya, Vodovzvodnaya and Angular Arsenalnaya), the remaining 17 are rectangular. Despite some similarities, all towers are unique.
The Trinity Tower is recognized as the highest, the size of which, together with the star, is about 80 m, which is slightly lower than the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. The Spasskaya Tower, famous for its chimes, is somewhat inferior to it, passing through which it was necessary to dismount and take off your hats.
The smallest and most unlike the others is the Tsarskaya Tower, whose height does not exceed 17 m. It owes its name to Ivan the Terrible, who loves to watch what is happening on Red Square from here. Another unique building – Kutafya tower – the only one of the bridgeheads, i.e. not built into the wall.
Each tower is interesting in its own way: Tainitskaya was the first to appear, Corner Arsenalnaya keeps a spring and a dungeon, government motorcades enter the Kremlin through Borovitskaya.
sights
Red Square is the symbol, heart and historical center of Moscow. This popular tourist destination is home to many attractions and is a must-see.
Zero kilometer
Kilometer zero is a new attraction in Moscow, which appeared only in 1996. The sign was supposed to appear in the capital in 1985, but they could not decide on the installation site. This bronze sign shows the starting point for distances.
Usually it is located near the main post office, but in Moscow it was decided to place it in the center of tourist routes near the Iverskaya chapel, explaining this by the fact that before the road every Muscovite went to bow to her, asking for intercession.
The sign is a square divided into 4 parts, symbolizing the parts of the world, inscribed in a circle. Animals are depicted on the bas-relief of the square. In its center is an eight-pointed badge with an inscription. Despite its youth, the attraction is very popular.
There is a sign: if you stand in the center of the sign facing the chapel on one foot and throw a coin over your left shoulder with your left hand so that it remains within the circle, then your wish will come true.
Resurrection Gate
Between the building of the Historical Museum and the City Duma there are the Resurrection Gates with a double passage, through which tourists get to Red Square. The gates were rebuilt in 1995 in the same place where they were until 1931.
The first gates were erected in the 15th century. and were called the Lions, because. in the ditch in front of them was placed a gift from the English king – a cage with lions. Later they changed several more names: Bogoyavlensky in honor of the church, Neglimensky because of the bridge over the river, along the nearby courtyards of Trinity and Kuryatnye, until they became Iversky because of the icon that was met here from Athos.
After the restoration, they depicted the resurrection of Christ and the gates became known as Resurrection. They were demolished as a royal monument, besides, they did not allow large vehicles to enter the square during the parade. A monument to the worker was erected at this place. Now these two-arched gates rebuilt in red brick with white inserts are one of the hallmarks of the capital.
House of provincial government
Rather modest against the backdrop of the bright ensemble of Red Square, the building of the provincial government is not striking. Built in 1730-40s. according to the project of P. Heiden, the building was part of the Kitaygoro Mint.
Not all of its buildings have been preserved; new buildings have been built on the foundations of some – the City Duma. The house of the provincial government is a 2-storey building in the Baroque style. Its facade is decorated with graceful pilasters, cornices, risalits and putti figurines. In the middle there is a passage gate through which the building of the Old Mint is visible.
Inside the building, ceremonial halls were equipped for ceremonial meetings of official places, later the Moscow Duma was located here. After the revolution, there were communal apartments in the building for some time. Now the premises of the house are rented to non-profit organizations, part of the rented jewelry store.
GUM
GUM is a unique trading city in the historical center of Moscow. The heir to the Upper Chambers of Commerce, the supermarket specializes in luxury goods and occupies an entire block. Trade has always flourished on the square near the Kremlin.
In order to streamline the shops, counters and give the trading place a civilized look, the Trading Rows were first built, which in 1893 were replaced by the passage – the Upper Trading Rows. They existed until 1917, when they were closed as a relic of tsarism.
In 1922 they were opened, but already as GUM, which became a symbol of the new policy, which was destined to work until 1930. GUM was opened again only in 1953 after the death of Stalin and Beria.
The modern GUM is a shopping and entertainment center, which occupies a historical building in pseudo-Russian style with a glass roof, under which there are 3 longitudinal and 3 transverse aisles. It presents products of more than 100 world brands, a cinema hall and restaurants.
Mausoleum V.I. Lenin
The Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin is one of the most controversial buildings in Moscow. Created as a ritual tomb, it has long since become a museum. The mausoleum, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is the third in a row. The first two were wooden. The last mausoleum was built in the form of a pyramid of marble, granite, labradorite and quartz. It is a structure 12 meters high and 24 meters wide.
Inside there is a Funeral Hall with a sarcophagus, in which the body of the leader is kept, and a columbarium, where the ashes of other political figures were supposed to be kept.
The latter is not used and is not shown to visitors. The mausoleum fit into the architecture of Red Square, but still raise a lot of questions: from the choice of the shape of the building itself, to the need for embalming.
Place of execution
One of the sights of Red Square – Lobnoye Mesto – is not striking. A small round elevation 1 m high and 13 m in diameter is surrounded by a stone parapet. The discreet architecture does not attract attention, but the building was of great importance – solemn speeches were made from here and decrees were read out, the relics of saints were erected here and the relics were exhibited, strikes were held and works of art were exhibited.
Although legends associate this place with public executions. In fact, no one was executed at the Execution Ground, rather the legends went because of a false etymology. The phrase appeared when translating from Hebrew a place in the Gospel, which spoke of the execution at Calvary.
And the Execution Ground is called because of the proximity of Vasilyevsky Spusk, which in the Middle Ages was called “forehead”. Previously, it was here that tourists threw a coin in order to return again, now Zero Kilometer fulfills this mission.
Tsar Cannon
The largest cannon in the world, the Tsar Cannon, is installed on Ivanovskaya Square between the Church of the 2 Apostles and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. An outstanding work of artillery art was made at the Cannon Yard by the foundry worker A. Chokhov by decree of the son of Tsar Ivan the Terrible – Fyodor Ivanovich in 1586.
This is an active weapon, because. in the barrel there is a foundry seal, which was put only after a trial shot. The length of this giant is 5 m, and the weight is 40 tons; about 200 horses were required to move it.
On the bronze trunk, surrounded by ornaments, friezes and inscriptions, there is an equestrian image of the king, which gave the name “Tsar Cannon”. In 1835, a gun carriage was cast from cast iron at the plant in St. Petersburg, which only confirmed the name, it is decorated with the head of the king of animals – a lion.
Researchers claim that the famous giant is not a cannon at all, but a battering ram. the carriage is not designed for her shot. Be that as it may, the Tsar Cannon is one of the achievements of the 16th century.
The Tsar Bell
Another monster of casting skill – the Tsar Bell is located on Ivanovskaya Square near the eastern part of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. The bell, cast by the Motorin family of foundry workers in 1730 by order of Tsaritsa Anna Ioannovna, never rang, moreover, it was never raised to the bell tower.
The queen wanted to leave the memory of her reign following her predecessors. The Godunovsky bell, which weighed 33 tons, served less than 50 years and broke in a fire. The same fate befell the bell created under Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, whose weight was 130 tons.
The Tsar Bell was cast in 1736, however, it was pulled out of the pit only after almost 100 years because of the weight of 200 tons. Only then was a chipped piece of 11 tons discovered. m, was installed in the place where it stands now. Disputes about the need for restoration do not subside, but there have been no attempts to implement it.
Monument to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky
The monument to Minin and Pozharsky is the first major monument in Moscow, installed on Red Square in front of St. Basil's Cathedral. Before that, temples, arches, etc. were opened in honor of important events. For the 200th anniversary of the Second Home Guard and the victory of 1612 over the interventionists in 1803, it was proposed to create a sculptural composition. She was supposed to portray the leaders of the militia – Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and the headman Kuzma Minin.
It was they who organized a rebuff to the Polish-Lithuanian and Swedish conquerors in Nizhny Novgorod, where the monument was intended. But the monument remained in the capital.
Installed in 1818 in front of the Upper Trading Rows, during the reconstruction of the square it was moved to the cathedral. The monument, the creation of which took 18 tons of copper and brass and was cast at a time, has become a real decoration of the square.
Arsenal
Between the Nikolskaya and Troitskaya towers, close to the Kremlin wall, there is a Tseikhgauz or Arsenal. This building, erected by decree of Peter I in 1736, was supposed to serve not only as a warehouse of weapons, but also as a museum in which military trophy banners, weapons and uniforms were exhibited.
The two-story, trapezoid-shaped building with a large courtyard took over 30 years to build. In 1812 it was blown up. Reconstruction work was carried out until 1828. Now its facade is decorated with deep arched windows arranged in pairs and friezes.
The height of the Arsenal is more than 30 m, so the Kremlin wall, which does not allow light to penetrate, had to be lowered. In 1819, 875 guns recaptured from the French were placed along the building, in 1960 the collection was replenished with guns that had previously stood at the Armory. The Arsenal itself now houses the administration and barracks of the Kremlin Commandant's Office.