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Probably the most architecturally impressive square I have ever been in, Red Square took my breath away.
Not only is it HUGE but it is lined with such impressive buildings as the Kremlin, Lenin's Tomb, St Basil's Cathedral, the magnificent GUM department store and the National History Museum, to name a few.
Impressive by day, it is even more beautiful by night. A place to admire the buildings, take loads of photos and avoid pickpockets! If you are "lucky" you may even have a run-in with Kremlin guards like we did (refer to my Warning & Dangers tip for details).
Note that on the mornings that Lenin's Tomb is open to the public, most of Red Square is blocked off, with just the footpath near GUM open to pedestrians. Leave a Comment
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This catherdral is one of the best known landmarks of Moscow. It was built between 1555 and 1561 as a monument to Ivan the Terrible's victory over the Tatars at Kazan in 1552. According to a legend Ivan had the architect blinded so the cathedral would stay unique. It was named after the holy Vassily (Basil) who correctly predicted that Ivan would murder his son. Vassily died while Kazan was still under siege and was buried in the church which was to be replaced by the cathedral.
The cathedral was altered a bit over the years, e.g. the colourful patterns of the domes were added in the 17th century.
Admission to the cathedral is 100 Roubles, but there's not really too much to see. Leave a Comment Phone: 298 3304
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Kazan Cathedral on the corner of Nikolskaya ulitsa, was torn down between the world wars only to be recreated in 1933 using blueprints secretly made decades earlier by Pyotr Baranovskiy, the architect who risked his life to save St Basil`s.
The original Kazan cathedral was built in 1636 and was dedicated to the Virgin of Kazan - the victory over the polish invaders. In 1936 the cathedral was demolished. In 1990 the reconstruction according to all existing measurements started and ended in 1993. This is the example of reconstruction of the old cathedral demolished in the Soviet time. Leave a Comment Address: Nicolskaya st 1Directions: Near Historical museum
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St. Basil's Cathedral looks like a town from a fairy tale.
It is a sad legend about it - it's architects Posnik and Barma where blinded by Tzar who wanted this miracle to be unique.
But it's only a legend (and I am happy about it). According to the documents Posnik's skill earned him Tzar's confidence and admiration. So as an architect of St. Basil's he was charged with an important mission - to build Kazan Kremlin walls. Later Posnik built churches in other Russian lands. As to the second architect - Barma - historians believe that he is a mythological character. Barma is a god of prayer in Slav pantheon. So it's likely that Posnik was the only architect who built the Cathedral. And he was doing his work with prayer. Leave a Comment
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You'd never know it to look at it, but the pretty little pink Kazan Cathedral at the north end of Red Square is a modern replica. The original church was built in 1636 to house the miraculous Icon of Kazanskaya, one of Moscow's most precious treasures. It stood for 300 years until Stalin ordered it to be demolished - an act of vandalism that took place just as the cathedral was about to celebrate its 300th anniversary. A street cafe and a public toilet were among the buildings that were erected on the site over the next 55 years.
In the late 1980s, a decision was made to restore the Cathedral. An historically-minded architect had had secret plans made of the Cathedral as it was being demolished, making ot possible to exactly replicate the original building. Work began in 1990 and the church was completed an reconsecrated in on November 4th, 1993 - the the Icon's feast day - and already has taken on an attractively faded air that makes it look as though it has been there for centuries. Leave a Comment
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That first sighting of St Basil's Church is, for everyone who visits Moscow, the moment when they realize they really are here in this extraordinary city. It must surely be the most photographed building in the city and ranks with places like the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal as the world's most unforgettable city signatures.
Commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in1551, it reflects the ancient style of Russia's wooden churches that here find their absolute apogee. It is said that Ivan had the architect blinded when the church was complete so that he could never build another like it.
You will find yourself coming back to gaze on its fantastic shapes and colours time and time again, and every time you catch even a glimpse of it, it draws your eye like a magnet.
Though locked and barred for many years, it did not suffer the indignities heaped on so many other Moscow churches. Now it is open once again, to serve as church, museum and symbol of the city. Its crazy colours, sheer ebullience and extravagant shapes are a joy to the eye. Leave a Comment
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As ancient chronicles assert, the Red Square appeared at the end of 15th century, when Ivan III ordered to ruin all wooden buildings, surrounding the Kremlin and threatening with the fire, and to allot this area for a market. That's how the first name of the square - Trade Square ("Torgovaya") appeared. However, in 16th century the Square was renamed into "Troitskaya (Trinity) Square" after the Church of Saint Trinity. Later the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed was erected at the place of St. Trinity Church.
The same object might have several names in Russia. Thus, The Red Square was officially given its modern name in 19th century, though the name was mentioned in the documents of 17th century. Different centuries left their traces:15th century gave the Kremlin's Wall with Spasskaya, Senatskaya and Nikolskaya towers; 16th - Place of execution. (Lobnoe mesto), and the Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed; 19th century - the monument to Minin and Pozharsky, the building of Historical museum and Upper Trade Rows (GUM), 20th century - Lenin's Mausoleum. Address: CentreDirections: Metro Ploshad Revolutsi
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Red Square is closed to traffic - except that is for the sleek black limos that sweep through the square and through the gate in the great Saviour Tower. The tower was considered sacred in the days of the Czars and it is still a potent symbol of the power of the Kremlin today. The clocks are each 3 stories high and their chime is heard all over Russia as it is broadcast on the radio across the country.
leyle Leave a Comment
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The crazy multicoloured swirl of towers, pointed roofs and domes of St Basil's exterior translates to an apparent maze of steep stairs, winding passages and little chapels once you are inside. There is a logic to their arrangement around the centre tower but it is easy to get a little muddled among the riot of colour, scaffolding and the curving chambers. Each tower contains a chapel, many of which still serve their original function. Some are being restored and there are also a couple of small shops selling icons and other religious items as well as a small range of more secular souvenirs. Theoretically photography is not permitted in the chapels but a discreet quick shot, sans flash, may be possible.
Icons, frescoes of saints and the fathers of the church, gilded and painted screens and doors, meandering floral paintings on walls and columns make the interior as dazzling as the exterior. There isn't another church I know of that is anything like it.
leyle Leave a Comment
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There was a time when you saw Lenin wherever you went in Moscow. Statues, huge murals on the sides of buildings, pins in people's lapels - his image was everywhere. Those days are gone and it comes as a surprise when you see a small plaque on a buiding with that familiar profile. It's really only in Red Square where the solid red granite bulk of his tomb sits squatly at the base of the Kremlin walls that his presence is felt.
Once the queues to view his embalmed body snaked halfway round the square and people waited patiently for hours for their few minutes with him. This summer there were no queues at all - the tomb was closed to visitors. I think I was glad really - it meant the decision as to whether I would participate in this rather macabre ritual was not one I had to make. Leave a Comment
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