Saint Basil's Cathedral, Moscow

The symbol of Moscow for over four centuries, centrally located Saint Basil's Cathedral seems like an image plucked out of a book of fairy tales. Constructed in the 1550s on the orders of Ivan the Terrible, the cathedral features vividly colored onion-shaped domes and an asymmetrical design unusual in traditional Russian architecture. Four of the eight side churches surrounding the main cathedral structure sit on raised platforms, designed to make them appear suspended in air. The massive structure contains a maze of vaulted corridors and vertical cylinders, the largest of which is 46 m (150 ft) tall. Walk inside to see the elaborate Baroque iconostasis, decorated with gilded cornices and corbel arches. Using our online itinerary creator, Moscow attractions like Saint Basil's Cathedral can form part of a personalized travel itinerary.