St. Basil's Cathedral (Khram Vasiliya Blazhennogo or Pokrovsky Sobor)

Description:

• The geometric domes and vivid tones of this 16th-century cathedral are almost garish up close, but they perfectly complement the solid red brick of the Kremlin wall and the gray cobblestones of Red Square. The church was built to honor the victory over Mongol Tatars in 1555, and legend has it that Ivan the Terrible had its architect's eyes poked out to keep him from making anything to rival Moscow's "stone flower." Inside, the cathedral is more reminiscent of the Middle Ages. The church lacks one large chapel, instead housing several dim and chilly sanctuaries reached by climbing deep and treacherously worn stairs and wandering through narrow, winding passages. Literature about the different chapels and niches is surprisingly limited, though vendors offer icons and souvenirs. St. Basil's is essentially a union of nine different churches and styles, and nine different chapels, beneath nine domes, each unique in size, form, and color. From the upper-floor windows you get a close-up view of the pilasters and a broad view of the Moscow River. You should be able to see everything in an hour or less.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010