Russia: Moscow – St. Basil’s Cathedral on the Red Square

Moscow wasn’t really a planned destination but rather a very short layover – nevertheless one of the few things that I haven’t seen in Moscow was the inside the St. Basil’s Cathedral. Proudly standing on the Red Square next to the Kremlin and Lenin’s Mausoleum, St. Basil is probably the most famous and photographed cathedral in Russia. It is also known as Pokrovsky Cathedral and was built in 1555-61 by Ivan the Terrible. Architecturally, the building is unrivaled for a church as it is shaped like a flame rising to the sky with colorful onion domes of various shapes and sizes. Inside, it’s as amazing as outside – intricate painted walls and spectacular cupola in every dome. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site