Saint Basil's Cathedral

Собор Василия Блаженного

Built in 1561 by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the conquest of Kazan, this cathedral of nine colorful onion domes is Russia’s most recognizable building. Inside, a maze of small chapels awaits.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is officially named the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin on the Moat. It was built between 1555 and 1561 by Ivan the Terrible to commemorate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan. Legend says he had the architect blinded so that he could never build another masterpiece, though this is historically doubtful. The building consists of a central church of intercession surrounded by eight smaller chapels. Each chapel is dedicated to the date of a battle. Its exterior features nine onion domes, each different in shape and pattern. The vivid colors were applied only in the 17th century. The name comes from Basil the Blessed, a holy fool buried beside the church.

Today, the cathedral is managed by the State Historical Museum. Inside, you will find narrow spiral staircases and maze-like passages, with 16th- to 19th-century murals and an icon screen. The central church rises 46 meters, yet its interior space is only a few dozen square meters, which is quite surprising. Male choir groups often perform sacred music inside, with short performances on the hour.

Entry costs about 700 rubles and tickets can be bought at the door or online. Queues are short. The museum is closed on the first Wednesday of each month, and sections close during religious holiday services. One hour is enough for a visit. The best exterior viewpoints are the Zaryadye Park Floating Bridge on the opposite bank of the Moskva River at the south end of Red Square, and the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge. Views at night and in winter snow are two classic versions.

The cathedral and Red Square are both within a 5-minute walk of the Kitay-Gorod and Okhotny Ryad metro stations.

Saint Basil's Cathedral

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