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St. Basil (Russian: Покровский собор, Pokrovskij Sobor) or Basil's Cathedral (Храм Василия Блаженного, Chram Vasilija Blazjennogo di Church of St. Basil the Blessed) in Moscow (Russia) is the main landmark of the Red Square.
The cathedral was built between 1555 and 1560 by order of Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible), in honor of his victory over the Tatars in the city of Kazan. A legend says that Ivan the architect, Postnik Jakolev, nicknamed Barma the mumbler, after completing his work asked if he could make an even better building. When the architect answered affirmatively, the Tsar had his eyes protrude, to ensure that St. Basil the most beautiful building would remain. However, this is a myth, then the architect has designed other buildings. The full name of the church building reads Pokrova Sobor, after tjsto rvoe (Собор Покрова, что на рву), which "Cathedral of the Intercession of the Mother of God on the ditch" means. St. Basil replaced an old abandoned church in the same place. The kerkwijding took place on July 12, 1561.
Four years after the death of Ivan IV was on the northeast corner of the cathedral church was built, probably by the same architect. Commissioned by Tsar Fyodor were the relics of the holy fool Vasily 1588 in aforementioned church placed, was called to this sacred. Vasili, fool in Christ, and enjoyed great veneration because in this church services were held daily, unlike the other churches that are part of the cathedral, the cathedral was one increasingly "the church of Vasili the silly" call. Under this name, this building more international fame.
In 1919 the church was confiscated by the Bolsheviks and closed for repairs. Pyotr Baranovski led the work that lasted until 1929. The only way to anger the church on the demolition of the Bolsheviks to make her escape was to transform it into a museum, a museum to commemorate the Russian conquest of Kazan in this case. In 1929, the bells of the church away and gave command to Joseph Stalin Red Square sweep of churches for a planned parade. This killed the Kazan Cathedral and the St. Basil stood on the nomination to be demolished, since Stalin (possibly at the suggestion of the Director of the herconstructieplan from Red Square, Lazar Kaganovitsj) was sorry that it prevented his soldiers and tanks into the square massive way could leave during parades. There was a large protest going and Eleanor Roosevelt even offered to the entire building to break down and transfer to the United States, which was rejected. Architect Baranovski was instrumental in protest against the decision. According to some accounts, he went on the steps of the building and threatened his throat cut and had a focus telegram to the Soviet government sent, according to other stories, he fell on his knees before the Central Committee of the CPSU to name only for to ensure that the building remained standing. Anyway, Stalin lifted the decision, but Baranovski received in 1933 a conviction for "anti-Soviet propaganda" on his pants and was for 3 years to the West Siberian city Mariinsk sent to a forced labor (with associated status oedarnik of 101st and subsequent mileage). In 1936 the statue Dmitri Pozjarski and Koezma Minin, which the Russian volunteer army led against the Polish invaders during the Time of Troubles, moved from the middle of Red Square to a spot close to the cathedral, so the troops could be easier along could parade.
At the maintenance of the cathedral was like most churches in the Soviet Union hardly done something, so that the building over the course of time fell significantly. In 1990 the bells were hung back. The present bells date from 1547 to 1996 and from the Urals, Yaroslavl, Moscow, France, Netherlands, Germany and Western Belarus. On October 14, 1991 was the first service held in the church again. There was no regular service and the cathedral is to this day part of the National History Museum. The cathedral was restored at the turn and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Written Feb 7, 2012
The Mausoleum of Lenin (Russian: Мавзолей В. И. Ленина, Mavsolej VI Lenina) is on the Red Square in Moscow and contains the embalmed body of Lenin (1870-1924). The mausoleum is a major tourist attraction.
The mausoleum is a classic example of Soviet architecture. The architect Alexei Sjtsjoesjev chose a simple design made of dark granite and black labradorite. These colors symbolize the sorrow of the people and the power of Lenin's eternal wisdom.
Written Feb 7, 2012
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Moscow Manege is a large square building which gives its name to the vast Manege Square adjacent to the more famous Red Square.
Moscow Manege designed by Spanish engineer Agustin de Betancourt with a unique roof without internal support for 45 m on top pillars it was erected by the Russian architect Joseph Bové from 1817 to 1825.
It's style is Neoclassical, the colours white and yellow. It was used first to have parades of horsemen and a training school for officers. From 1831 to our days it has been an exhibition place.
On 14 March 2004 the building caught fire and burnt to the ground, killing two firefighters and leaving just the walls remaining on site. The official investigation concluded that a short-circuit caused the fire (the building has been used as an art gallery after the breakup of the Soviet Union).
On 18 Feb 2005 the restored Manege resumed its activity as an exhibition hall with the same exhibition that had been scheduled on the day of its fire.
Updated Nov 19, 2011
Address: Manezhnaya Sq.
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St. Basil's Cathedral is probably the most famous and beautiful church of Moscow.
It consist of eight onion domed chapels representing the 8 assaults on Kazan.
The Cathedral was built between 1555 and 1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible.
The Statue to Minin and Pozharsky which now stands in the garden of the Cathedral was first erected on Red Square in 1818, but was moved to its current position by the Soviets in 1936.
Address:
St. Basil's Cathedral, 4 Krasnaya Ploshad, Moscow
Directions:
St. Basil's Cathedral is located at the southern end of Red Square. The nearest metro stop is Kitai Gorod.
Updated Nov 5, 2011
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You can visit The Armoury Chamber 4 times at day: at 10:00, 12:00 , 14:30, 16:30. And tickets you should buy before 45 minutes (QUEUES!!!).
Ticket for adult - 700 RUB. Museum staff will give you a free audio guide!
The Armoury Chambe is the oldest treasure-house in Moscow! Exhibits : faberge eggs, gold things, carriages, royal costumes and jewelry..
Also inside museum you can buy some souvenirs ... magnets, books..
Updated Aug 5, 2011
Address: Kremlin
Phone: (495)6953776
Website: http://kreml.ru/en/museums/armoury/
Built in the 1530's, Red Square (which got it's name from the Russian word Krasnaya which originally meant dominant or beautiful and then became to mean Red) is always a good starting point. Not least because it is home to the most famous of all Cathedrals - St. Basil's; the one with nine multi-coloured domes. Inside St Basil's, every square inch of wall-space is either painted or covered with icons. Built in 1555-60 to celebrate a victory over the Kazan Khanate, the interior is pretty dark and gloomy; contrasting the bright colorful exterior.
The Square is also home to Vladimir Lenin's Mausoleum. Erected in 1930, six years after his death, against his wishes, and made of dark red granite and black labrodorite, the is a necrophilia's delight. The interior is dark and the passage is not sure-footed. Talking and stopping to look more carefully is strictly verbotten. Militia men "shhhh" aggressively and stand on guard on all corners.
Rumour has it that Lenin is quietly rotting, hence less and less of his body is uncovered as time passes; some say parts of his body are being replaced with wax substitutes. Behind this building are the graves of famous past party and state leaders, busts and tombstones; Stalin, Lenin's wife and sister, the first man in space (Yuri Gaarin) the writer Maxim Gorky, and the American author John Reed author of the October Revolution account 'The Ten Days That Shook the World' . Joseph Stalin's bust always attracts the most flowers.
Next to the Square is the Kremlin which houses state buildings, residences and plenty more Cathedrals. The Kremlin is surrounded by a triangular mile-and-a-half long red brick wall, whose width varies up to 21 feet thick! There are four gates and twenty towers, some of which are tipped with ruby stars which are lit from within and shone 24 hours a day. One of the Cathedrals, Archangel Michael is home to the burial site of Ivan the Terrible, who was exhumed in 1963 so that artists could more accurately sculpt him. That's outrageous!
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: www.peterabryan.co.uk
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in Red Square in Moscow (Arch. A.V.Shchusev) is the tomb of V.I.Lenin, and is one of the masterpieces of the Soviet architechture. The first (temporary, wooden) building was opened January 27 1924, near the Senate Tower of the Kremlin in Red Square. Two months later the temporary wooden Mausoleum was closed, and the construction of the new wooden Mausoleum began and lasted March through August 1924.
Five years later, the construction of the stone Mausoleum began (July 1929 - October 1930). In plan, the stone Mausoleum is practically the same as the wooden building. Visitors enter the main entrance and descend the left 3m wide staircase (the walls are faced with labradorite) into the memorial hall. The hall is cubic in form (face length is 10m) with a step-like ceiling. A wide black labradorite band with red porphyritic pilasters on it runs round the periphery of the hall. To the right of the pilasters run the bands of black polished labradorite, with zigzag bright red smalta strips between them. Visitors move along the low podium around the sarcophagus from the three sides, exit the memorial hall, ascend the right staircase and exit the Mausoleum through the door in the right wall.
Constructively, the frame of the building is reinforced concrete; the walls are filled with brick and faced with polished marble, labradorite, porphyry, and granite. The length of the Mausoleum facade is 24m, the height 12m. The top portico is shifted to the Kremlin wall (in the wooden Mausoleum, it was shifted to the facade). The Mausoleum pyramid consists of five projections of different height (in the wooden building they were six). In 1945 a tribune for top officials was arranged on the first projection.
Lenin (or at the least the alleged wax copy of his body) lies still in his crystal casket, seemingly unaffected by the vast changes that have swept over Russia.
Admission (free) is on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, from 10.00 a.m. till 1.00 p.m.
Updated Dec 19, 2010
Address: Red sq, Moscow
Website: http://www.lenin.ru/index_e.htm
Alexandrovsky garden was the first public park in Moscow. It is situated in the center, along the Kremlin wall. The garden was laid out on the orders of Tsar Alexander 1 in the riverbed Neglinka, which has since been flowing in a pipe underground. The garden is preserved an ancient bridge over the Neglinka - it starts just behind Kutafja tower, through which tourists usually come to the Kremlin.
Updated Nov 19, 2010
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The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier commemorates the soldiers of the Soviet Army who perished at the front during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.The memorial was erected under the supervision of architects D.Burdin, V.Klimov and Yu.Rabayev. The sculptor was V.Tomsky. On the black graniteslab burns the "eternal flame of glory". The inscription reads:
Your name is unknown
but your deed is eternal
The porphyry blocks, beside which the guard of honourstands, contain earth from the cities which were awarded the designation"hero city" after the Second World War.
Updated Oct 8, 2010
Address: Aleksandrovsky garden
Even in the rain and the thunderclouds, this place can be fantastic! The colors of the roof are amazing, and the different people roaming around the square are so diverse... This is an amazing sight for any visitor at any time-----
Written Jul 9, 2010
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Red Sq. - Kremlin area/Manezhnaya Sq. tips and photos posted by real travelers and Moscow locals.
Write a ReviewEven in the rain and the thunderclouds, this place can be fantastic! The colors of the roof are amazing, and the different people roaming around the square are...
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Q: Me and my husband will spend 4 days in Moscow between 17 to 21st February. We'll stay at the Kempinsky. I'd like some tips for...
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