Photos from the day-Friday September 20th

The Kremlin. The Kremlin (fortress) is a territory within Moscow surrounded by a red brick wall and twenty turrets. The turrets were both functional for defense as well as built for aesthetics-all but three are square.  Inside the walls there are 5 palaces and 4 cathedrals-among those building lie 9 museums.

We went into 4 different Cathedrals within the Kremlin. Here are a few pictures:
The Assumption Cathedral

Restoration in progress

The Annunciation Cathedral (home church for the Great Princes of Moscow and later the Russian Tsars)

The Ivan the Great Bell Tower. For many many years no building in Moscow could be built taller than the bell tower.

 

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guard

 

 Lenin's Tomb

St. Basil's Cathedral - outside and a few photos from various churches within

 

 

Lobnoye Mesto - Also called The Place of Skulls. Constructed in the 1530s. Rumor is that it was the location of beheadings and executions.  There is dispute about whether or not that is true.  What is known is that Ivan the Terrible would address citizens and make announcements from this platform at the far end of what is now Red Square.