Moscowcultural revolution

The colorful onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral are instantly recognizable. Situated at the eastern border of Red Square, the Russian Orthodox Church was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in 1552 to mark a victory over the Mongols. Legend has it the villainous ruler was so taken aback by the beauty of the structure that he blinded the architect that designed it to prevent him from replicating the masterpiece for anyone else. The interior houses nine individual chapels separated by stairs and narrow archways and filled with icons and walls painted with floral motifs and geometric patterns. Don’t forget to pay your respects to St. Basil the Blessed, a Muscovite “holy fool” buried on the original site.