St Basils Cathedral – a Moscow Icon

St Basils Cathedral is an instantly recognizable landmark, with its 9 beautifully ornate domes, making it one the ‘must-go’ Moscow places to visit. It was constructed between 1555 and 1561 in the Red Square by Ivan the Terrible, to commemorate the Russian victory over the Khanate of Kazan in 1552. St Basils cathedral also symbolizes the power of the Russian Orthodox Church and the tsars. Nowadays, it is no longer a place of worship, but functions as a museum for religious icons, artifacts and frescos showcasing the Russian Orthodox faith. This amazing building was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 and attracts more than one million visitors annually.

Moscow Metro

The nearest metro station to St Basil’s Cathedral is Okhotny Ryad on the Red Line (Line 1) or Teatralnaya on the Green Line (Line 2), both within a short walking distance. Alternatively, Ploshchad Revolyutsii on the Blue Line (Line 3) is a 5-minute walk. The Moscow metro is a major tourist attraction with over 220 stations and 250 miles of track, making it the fourth longest and busiest metro in the world. Many stations are beautifully decorated, and the Moscow metro is renowned for being graffiti free and spotlessly clean.

Why the nine domes are significant?

The Central Dome is the largest, and this represents the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Golden Yellow.

Dome 1 – The Chapel of St Basil the Blessed, who relics are at rest in the cathedral. Bright red with floral patterns.

Dome 2 – The Chapel of St. Nicholas, green with gold and floral motifs.

Dome 3 – The Chapel of St. George. Blues with white and gold.

Dome 4 – The Chapel of St. Elijah. Orange with geometric designs

Dome 5 – The Chapel of St. Dmitry. Red with floral patterns.

Dome 6 – Chapel of St. Peter and Paul. Light Blue with geometric designs

Dome 7 – The Chapel of St. Stephen. Yellow with geometric designs.  

Dome 8 – The Chapel of St. Alexander. Green with ornamental shapes.

St Basils cathedral is an architectural masterpiece, and the different colors of the domes make this a true Russian icon.

Admission

700 roubles ($9) for adults, with free entry for children up to 16 years old.

Tickets can be purchased via the website or on the day.

Website; https://en.shm.ru/museum/hvb/

When to visit Moscow

• The best time to visit Moscow is from May to June and then from September to October, when the temperatures range from 10C to 25C.
• The city can get very busy July/August, and this is the most expensive time to book a hotel.
• Temperatures drop well below freezing in Winter, but the city still attracts a significant number of tourists.

Souvenir Shop

The shop is located near the entrance and offers an excellent range of souvenirs to choose from showcasing handmade Russian craft, the Russian Orthodox religion and St Basils cathedral itself. Stackable Dolls are one of the most sought-after souvenirs with 4-6 dolls in each set, that fit inside one another, in decreasing sizes.