Moscow Kremlin

One of the richest world collections of fine arts from the time immemorial to nowadays is treasured in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts that is favorably situated in the very center of Moscow, close to the Kremlin and Red Square. Nowadays it is the second, after the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, largest museum of foreign art in Russia.The Moscow Kremlin, which is the unique State Historical and Cultural Museum-Preserve, is situated on the bank of the Moscow River in the very heart of the Russian capital. Its monumental walls and elegant towers, gilded domes of cathedrals and majestic palaces create the splendid architectural ensemble that comprises cultural and architectural monuments of the 15th-20th centuries. For its 8-century long history the Moscow Kremlin has seen many glorious and dramatic events. And each period of Moscow development can be easily traced in the architecture of the ensemble. The magnificent buildings represent the best works of Russian and foreign architects of the past. Nowadays on the territory of this large cultural and historic preserve there are several world famous museums that treasure historic relics, priceless works of arts and unique cultural monuments. The Armory Chamber is one of the first museums that should be mentioned. Gold and silverware by Russian, European and Eastern masters, arms and armories, royal carriages, horse ceremonial harness and other valuable items are exhibited in this treasure-house. Four cathedral-museums occupy the most important place in the Kremlin Museum-Preserve. These are the Assumption Cathedral, the Annunciation Cathedral, the Archangel Cathedral and the Church of Laying our Lady's Holy Robe. All the temples have played a significant role in the history of the Russian State and are open to the public. For centuries, the Assumption Cathedral has been the main cathedral of Russia. There the inaugurations of princes, tsars, emperors and heads of the Russian Orthodox Church were held. The Archangel's Cathedral is the royal burial vault of great princes and tsars of Russia. Great Princes Ivan Kalita, Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan III, Ivan the Terrible, Tsarevich Dmitry, Tsars Mikhail and Alexey Romanov were buried there. The Church of Laying our Lady's Holy Robe hosts a continuous exhibition of Russian wooden sculpture. And the Annunciation Cathedral, which was a home church of Russian Great Princes, boasts of unique paintings dating back to Ivan the Terrible times and ancient iconstand, some icons of which were said to be created by Feofan Grek and Andrei Rublev. The collections of the Patriarch's Palace that was built in 1653-1655 for patriarchy Nikon are devoted to the Russian culture of the 17th century. In the palace you will find ancient crockery, furniture, tsar's hunting kits and icons of the 17th century. The Kremlin has always been the administrative center of Russia, and it still remains as such. Remaining one of the world largest museums, the Kremlin also houses the residence of the President of the Russian Federation.