Moscow Kremlin
One
of the richest world collections of fine arts from the time immemorial to
nowadays is treasured in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts that is favorably
situated in the very center of Moscow, close to the Kremlin and Red Square.
Nowadays it is the second, after the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, largest
museum of foreign art in Russia.The Moscow Kremlin, which is the unique State
Historical and Cultural Museum-Preserve, is situated on the bank of the Moscow
River in the very heart of the Russian capital. Its monumental walls and elegant
towers, gilded domes of cathedrals and majestic palaces create the splendid
architectural ensemble that comprises cultural and architectural monuments of
the 15th-20th centuries.
For its 8-century long history the Moscow Kremlin has seen many glorious
and dramatic events. And each period of Moscow development can be easily traced
in the architecture of the ensemble. The magnificent buildings represent the
best works of Russian and foreign architects of the past.
Nowadays on the territory of this large cultural and historic preserve there are
several world famous museums that treasure historic relics, priceless works of
arts and unique cultural monuments.
The Armory Chamber is one of the first museums that should be mentioned. Gold
and silverware by Russian, European and Eastern masters, arms and armories,
royal carriages, horse ceremonial harness and other valuable items are exhibited
in this treasure-house.
Four cathedral-museums occupy the most important place in the Kremlin
Museum-Preserve. These are the Assumption Cathedral, the Annunciation Cathedral,
the Archangel Cathedral and the Church of Laying our Lady's Holy Robe. All the
temples have played a significant role in the history of the Russian State and
are open to the public.
For
centuries, the Assumption Cathedral has been the main cathedral of Russia. There
the inaugurations of princes, tsars, emperors and heads of the Russian Orthodox
Church were held.
The Archangel's Cathedral is the royal burial vault of great princes and tsars
of Russia. Great Princes Ivan Kalita, Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan III, Ivan the
Terrible, Tsarevich Dmitry, Tsars Mikhail and Alexey Romanov were buried there.
The Church of Laying our Lady's Holy Robe hosts a continuous exhibition of
Russian wooden sculpture. And the Annunciation Cathedral, which was a home
church of Russian Great Princes, boasts of unique paintings dating back to Ivan
the Terrible times and ancient iconstand, some icons of which were said to be
created by Feofan Grek and Andrei Rublev.
The collections of the Patriarch's Palace that was built in 1653-1655 for
patriarchy Nikon are devoted to the Russian culture of the 17th century. In the
palace you will find ancient crockery, furniture, tsar's hunting kits and icons
of the 17th century.
The Kremlin has always been the administrative center of Russia, and it still
remains as such. Remaining one of the world largest museums, the Kremlin also
houses the residence of the President of the Russian Federation.
