One of the most recognized visual landmarks of Russia, a towering cluster of ten churches with brightly coloured, onion-shaped domes and red brick spires, has a mysterious and bloody history. St. Basil’s Cathedral was built in Moscow (Globle: Capitals answer for August 12) between 1555-1561 to commemorate Ivan the Terrible’s capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. At 65 metres tall, it stood as the city’s tallest building until 1600, when Ivan the Great Bell Tower was completed. 

St. Basil’s Cathedral looks like a castle you might find at Disneyland - it is whimsical, colourful and impractical, standing in stark contrast to the reign of terror of the tsar who ordered it. It is a symbol of the city of Moscow, having withstood the Revolution and Soviet times. A visiting French diplomat, the Marquis du Custine, remarked that it looked like “the scales of a golden fish, the enameled skin of a serpent, the changeful hues of the lizard, the glossy rose and azure of the pigeon’s neck” in the 19th century. 

Design of the cathedral is attributed to architects Barma and Postnik Yakovlev, however scholars have speculated that there may have been other architects, or one architect who used both names. The bright materials were considered unusual for Russian architecture of the times, such as Muscovy and Byzantine. Rumour has it that the tsar had the architects of the cathedral blinded so they could never replicate its beauty, however historians have stated this is a myth, as one of the architects went on to construct two other buildings.  

Today, St. Basil’s Cathedral operates as a museum with public tours, though church services still operate. Inside, you will find priceless works of art, religious artefacts, and intricately painted walls. The cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1990. 

Monday, August 12 to Sunday, August 19.

The following are the shortest paths from last week:

Play Forgeous for Aug 19.