Secrets behind the Kremlin doors

The Kremlin has seen the ups and downs of Russian history over its eight centuries. The citadel has some of the most ancient structures, including the sacred Dormition Cathedral, which dates back to 1479. The paved square surrounding the structure is a popular destination for most visitors. The area also includes two other churches, a 16th-century bell tower, and a palace that resembles a giant pearl, according toIndependent.

Established in the 12th century, this fortress originally consisted of a series of wooden castles and churches located on a hill between two river banks. Its strength lies not only in its ugly wooden walls, but also in its remote location in the middle of a dense primeval forest.

As the Mongol Empire began to decline in the 15th century, the stronghold at Moscow became the dominant military power in the region.

The present Kremlin began to take shape at this time. Built by order of Prince Ivan III, the castle was not based on local techniques. The future symbol of the Russian state was designed by Italians who were contemporary with Leonardo da Vinci.

Over the course of 50 years, starting in the 1470s, these foreigners transformed Ivan's bland citadel into an architectural masterpiece. They began with the Dormition Cathedral, which had to be designed in accordance with Orthodox precepts and beliefs.

The core and walls of the Kremlin were designed by Italians, but the towers were not completed until much later. Since important records have been lost, it is speculated that the designer of the famous Tower of Salvation (the clock tower) may have been an Englishman.In the late 17th century, the Russian civil war destroyed half of the castle and left parts of its construction unfinished.

Under the new Romanov dynasty, the Kremlin became a bloody fortress of brutal purges. The tsars had to rely on James I and craftsmen from the British Isles to help Russia refurbish the castle. No one may know who built the tower, but the clock on it was definitely designed by a Scotsman.

The Russian values ​​of this structure were somewhat overshadowed by foreign designs until the 1840s, when the Great Kremlin was built for Nicholas I. It was designed by a Russian architect who also built the Armoury Chamber, which houses the museum of Russian royal treasures.

These vast structures occupy a large part of the southwest 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. Although famous for its spectacular gardens, artistic statues, and oval hall, it is not a place to visit.

In modern times, the historic structure has undergone renovation projects rather than new construction. The last attempt at reconstruction was under Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s, when he ordered the demolition of the former dining hall and bathhouse to rebuild the Red Staircase. These covered steps, once used by ancient lords to descend from their palaces, were meant to symbolize the rebirth of Russia.