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| HOME / TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS OF MOSCOW / MOSCOW KREMLIN |
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The Kremlin is one of the most intriguing ensembles of buildings in Moscow and its architectural variety reveals a long and fascinating history.
Meaning simply "fortification" or "citadel" in Russian, the Kremlin was originally founded in 1156 by Prince Yury Dolgoruky as a wooden hut on the site of Borovitsky Hill. As the city of Moscow grew up around the Kremlin the fortress' structures became more and more sturdy and elaborate. The first stone fortifications and churches were erected in the 14th century and Italian architects were drafted in less than a hundred years later to create the red, crenellated walls that we see surrounding the Kremlin ensemble today. These walls support twenty imposing, star-topped towers, each with its own character and historical associations.
At the very heart of the fortified complex stands Cathedral Square, flanked by the main churches of the Kremlin. Most prominent amongst them is the Cathedral of the Assumption, built by the Italian architect Aristotle Fioravanti in the 1470s and witness to the coronation of many of Russia's Tsars. The Cathedral of the Annunciation was constructed between 1485 and 1489 by builders from the religious town of Pskov, and is the second oldest cathedral in the Kremlin. The floor is inlaid with jasper, a gift from the Persian Shah, and the roof is completely covered in gold. Ivan III commissioned the cathedral to fulfill the ceremonial needs of the royal family and provide an ecclesiastical venue appropriate for Imperial weddings and birthday celebrations. The cathedral's interior is elaborately decorated with icons by some of the great painters of the 15th century; Theophanes the Greek, Prokhor of Gorodets, and Andrei Rublev and the church houses the tombs of all the Grand Princes and Tsars that ruled Russia before the 18th century. The remaining two Kremlin cathedrals are the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles and the Cathedral of the Archangel.
The Kremlin boasts not only cathedrals and churches, but numerous palaces and governmental buildings. The oldest secular building in the complex and in Moscow itself is the recently renovated 15th century Faceted Palace, so named due to its carved stone facade. The only modern building in the Kremlin complex is the former Palace of Congresses, built in the 1960s and now named the State Kremlin Palace and home to the Kremlin Concert Hall.
Definitely worth a visit is the State Armory, designed by Konstantin Thon in the 1840s and now home to a staggering collection of priceless artifacts and royal treasures dating back to the 14th century. Originally the Armory was just a small stone chamber, constructed to protect the Kremlin's growing collection of priceless jewelry, embroidered cloth, ceremonial robes and arms, enamelware and icons. Much later in 1726 the collections of the Kazenny Dvor (Imperial Treasury) were incorporated into those of the Armory and in the 19th century the building was transformed into a museum and the combined collections put on display for visitors to see.
One of the most curious buildings within the Kremlin walls is the Old English Embassy. Built for the sole purpose of housing English merchants and conducting duty-free trade, it has a bright "wedding cake" facade, which is unlike any other structure in the Kremlin. In 1553 Richard Chancellor led three ships from England, two of which were lost at sea, to find a passage north to Russia. On reaching the White Sea, they made their way to Moscow where Ivan the Terrible received them with uncharacteristically warm hospitality and granted them many privileges for the duration of their stay. The building's middle floor was used most frequently to receive and entertain guests, while the attic and basement were used to store goods.
Two other interesting structures can be found inside the Kremlin walls - the Tsar Bell and the Tsar Cannon, interesting because the former was never rung and the latter was never fired. Having taken 2 years to cast and weighing 200 tons, the Tsar Bell came crashing down from its foundry after a fire weakened its supports in 1737. The bell inevitably cracked and an 11-ton piece broke off on impact, ensuring that the largest bell Russia had ever seen would never toll. The bronze Tsar Cannon was cast in 1586 for the purpose of defending the Kremlin's Savior Gate, which leads to Red Square. Weighing 40 tons and ornately decorated it was decided that the cannon should not be fired and was instead mounted on a gun carriage in 1835 and left on display just outside Cathedral Square. |
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