St. Basil’s Cathedral, Russia

In reality, the most popular tourist destination in Moscow is this garish, candy-colored cathedral. St. Basil’s Cathedral, which is situated just outside the Kremlin gates and designates the geometric center of the city, is shaped to resemble the flame of a bonfire rising into the sky.

Legend has it that the architect of the cathedral was blinded after it was finished in order to prevent another structure of this magnitude from ever being built. It has a distinctive appearance thanks in part to the colorful domes and brilliant redbrick towers. Each dome, which is a part of nine different chapels inside the cathedral, symbolizes the Kazan attack.

The cathedral was built between 1554 and 1560 during the reign of Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible). Postnik Yakovlev, the building's architect, is little known, but he was clearly a fan of onion domes, sharp spikes, and polygonal towers. The architecture of the cathedral is inspired by Jerusalem architectural styles and has deep religious significance.

When viewed from above, the eight domes that form a circular pattern around the ninth sphere resemble a star. The interior of St Basil's Cathedral is very different from its exterior, with simple decorations and narrow passageways. The cathedral has been damaged by fires, theft, and other occurrences several times throughout its history.

Completed: 1561
Function: Cathedral
Architect: Postnik Yakovlev
Location: Moscow, Russia