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The Kremlin Palace - a symbol of Russian history - was predominantly designed by Italian architects of the era, including Leonardo da Vinci.
Unraveling the Secrets Beyond the Kremlin Palace Doors
Over its 8 centuries of existence, the Kremlin has witnessed countless highs and lows of Russian history. This fortress encompasses distinctive ancient structures, including the revered Dormition Cathedral dating back to 1479. The square paved around this edifice is a frequent stop for most visitors. The area also includes two other cathedrals, a 16th-century bell tower, and a palace that resembles a giant gemstone, as reported by Independent.
Established since the 12th century, this fortress initially comprised a series of wooden castles and churches perched atop a hill between two rivers. Its resilience lay not only in the unsightly wooden and clay walls but also in its remote location amidst dense virgin forests.
As the Mongol Empire began to decline in the 15th century, the fortress in Moscow became a dominant military stronghold in the region.
The Present-Day Kremlin began to take shape from this point onwards. Constructed under the orders of Prince Ivan III, this fortress did not rely on local techniques. The future symbol of the Russian state was designed by Italians contemporaneous with Leonardo da Vinci.
Over 50 years, starting from the 1470s, these foreign craftsmen transformed Ivan's dull fortress into an architectural masterpiece. They began with the Dormition Cathedral, originally designed to align with the legal and religious norms of Orthodoxy.
The Italians designed the core and walls of the Kremlin Palace, yet its towers were not completed until much later. Due to lost records, it is speculated that the author of the famous Saviour Tower (the clock tower) could be an Englishman. By the late 17th century, civil strife in Russia destroyed half of the castle and left construction incomplete.
Under the new Romanov dynasty, the Kremlin Palace became a blood-soaked fortress with brutal purges. The tsars of Russia had to rely on James I and craftsmen from the British Isles to refurbish the castle. The designer of the spire might remain unknown, but the clock atop the tower was surely designed by a Scot.
Russian influence in this structure was somewhat overshadowed by foreign designs until the 1840s when the Grand Kremlin Palace was built for Nicholas I. This was a project designed by a Russian architect, who also erected the Armoury Chamber – housing the treasures of the Russian royal family.
These vast structures occupy a significant portion of the southwestern corner of the present-day Kremlin. The Presidential Palace, with its soaring dome visible from Red Square, is a neoclassical masterpiece designed in the 1770s. Despite its renowned gardens, artistic statues, or oval halls, this is not a place for sightseeing.
In modern times, this historical structure has undergone only renovation projects instead of new construction. The most recent effort dates back to the era of Boris Yeltsin (the 1990s), when he ordered the demolition of an area that once housed dining halls and bathrooms to rebuild the Red Staircase. These covered stairs, originally meant for ancient lords to descend from their palaces, symbolize the rebirth of Russia.
According to Truong Dang/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourJune 21, 2018
