Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow (Russia) - church in Red Square

Located on Red Square, near the Kremlin, the church is a showcase of Russia, was built on the orders of Ivan IV the Terrible to celebrate victories over the Tartars.

Originally, the council consisted of eight churches with colorful domes in the shape of onions built on a common foundation. In 1588, Tsar Fiodor Ivanovich added a ninth chapel on the east side of the church above the grave of Vasilii.

It seems that the domes are arranged chaotically and there is no symmetry here, nothing more wrong. There are eight churches symbolizing eight days of fighting at Kazan, four large octagonal, four small square ones, all eight surrounding a high tower crowned with a small golden dome.

The aforementioned ninth church, added in 1588 on the eastern side, interrupts somewhat symmetry. It is easily seen from the outside by its green-gold dome studded with golden pyramids.

The interior of the church creates a labyrinth of winding passages between chapels and levels, through narrow stairs and low arches. The walls are painted in flower and geometric patterns.

The magnificent silver casket of Basilian Blessed is in the chapel of his name on the ground floor. On the upper floors in the intercession chapel is a magnificent blue-gold iconostasis (wall with icons). Other chapels, such as St. Nicholas are more restrained and even raw in their style.

In the garden in front of the cathedral stands a bronze monument commemorating Dymitr Pożarski and Kuzma Minin, who gathered the Russian army against Polish invaders during the fighting in the 16th and early 17th century.

Legend has it that after completing the construction, Ivan ordered to blind the creator of his creator, not to build a better or even similar building. Despite the eye defect, this did not prevent Postnik from taking part in the construction of the Kazan Kremlin.

In the 1770s, the domes were decorated with a colorful appearance (previously all of them were uniform, gold-plated), domes over the entrances as well as external and internal ornaments were added and paintings.

In 1929 the council closed and its bells were removed. They were re-collected in 1990. Currently, the museum has 19 bells, as well as an unusual collection of weapons from the times of Ivan the Terrible.

Since 1928, the museum has a history museum. The cathedral became a part of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square, and in 1990 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The church is open to tourists during the week between 11-18. Not open on Tuesdays and every first Monday of the month. The cost of sightseeing is $ 3.30.