The Saviour Tower (Spasskaya Tower)

The Spasskaya Tower (Tower of the Saviour), the tallest and most impressive structure in the citadel, is situated on the Kremlin's eastern side, close to Moscow's Red Square. An enormous clock on the tower keeps track of the city's official time.

The tower was built as the main entrance to the Kremlin complex in 1491, during the reign of Ivan the Great. The gateway could only be used by heads of state or high officials in Tsarist Russia, and they had to dismount their horses and remove their hats as a mark of respect when passing through the imposing red brick tower. Legends persist that the Spasskaya Tower possessed magical powers to protect the Kremlin from enemy invasions!

Stalin replaced the imperial symbol of the two-headed eagle on top of the Spasskaya Tower with a red star during the Soviet Union, and its height with the star is 233 feet (71 meters).

Undoubtedly one of Moscow's most recognizable structures is the Spasskaya Tower. Its prominent location on Red Square, next to Saint Basil's Cathedral, ensures that everyone who visits Moscow brings back photos of it from their trip.

In addition to keeping track of official Moscow time, the tower's enormous 20-foot (6-meter) diameter clock is also responsible for signaling the start of the New Year. Similar to Big Ben in London or the clock in Madrid's Puerta del Sol, the event draws thousands of residents together each year under its watchful gaze.

Year of construction: 1491

Total Height: 233 feet (871 m)

Location: Moscow, Russia