Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, Russia

The Kremlin in Moscow is the symbolic and governmental center of Russia. Cathedral Square in the Kremlin has some of Russia's most important architecture, including:

• Cathedral of the Dormition
• the Archangel's Cathedral
• Cathedral of the Assumption
• Grand Kremlin Palace
• Terem Palace

Just outside the Kremlin Gates is St. Basil's Cathedral, also called the Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God. St. Basil's Cathedral is a carnival of painted onion domes in the most expressive of Russo-Byzantine traditions. St. Basil's was built between 1554 and 1560 and reflects the renewed interest in traditional Russian styles during the reign of Ivan IV (the Terrible).

Ivan IV built St. Basil's Cathedral to honor Russia's victory over the Tatars at Kazan. It is said that Ivan the Terrible had the architects blinded so that they could never again design a building so beautiful.

Learn More About Architecture in the Kremlin:

• The Kremlin Photos
• Architecture in Russia