St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil's Cathedral, one of the most well-known structures in the world, genuinely appears to have simply been plucked from a collection of children's fairytales. Red Square in the center of Moscow is dominated and defined by the stunning structure, which was constructed in 1561 under the direction of Ivan the Terrible.

Part of its distinctive appearance can be attributed to the colorful domes and vivid redbrick towers. The domes belong to ten different chapels within the cathedral, and each dome is a symbol of the assault on the city of Kazan. The design of the cathedral draws from architectural designs found in Jerusalem and holds strong religious meanings. When seen from the top, the eight domes surrounding the ninth dome in a circular fashion appear to form a star. Although it is famed for its distinctive appearance, the inside is just as magical as icons and murals cover every surface. Secularised in 1929 by the Soviets, who actually considered demolishing it, St. Basil’s Cathedral is now an important symbol of the country.

The inside of the cathedral is small and evocative despite its lack of space. You may explore the structure's medieval past by navigating a maze of dimly lit passages between chapels.

Location: Moscow, Russia

Architect: Barma and Postnik