Commissioned by Ivan IV after the conquest of Kazan, St Basil’s Cathedral fuses chapels into a clustered plan crowned by vividly patterned onion domes. Layers of brick, timber, and polychrome stucco have been renewed through fires, 19th‑century restorations, and 20th‑century conservation. Today climate control, paint conservation, and careful routing manage crowds on Red Square.
Built 1555–61 by master builders Barma and Postnik (traditionally named), the cathedral groups nine chapels around a tall central core. The irregular but cohesive plan knits chapels with galleries and stairs, creating a pilgrimage sequence within a compact footprint.
Onion domes (later forms) and tented roofs cap brick drums, formerly sheet‑metal clad and repainted over centuries. Polychrome patterns—chevrons, diamonds, and florals—evolved through historic repainting. Conservation balances cleaning, repaint cycles, and the retention of patina.
Brick walls bonded with lime mortars, timber roofs, and iron ties resist Moscow’s freeze‑thaw. Monitoring of cracking, salts, and humidity informs mortar repairs and discreet reinforcements.
Once a working church, now primarily a museum with services on select days. Wayfinding, small‑group entry, and seasonal roof maintenance accommodate heavy visitation on Red Square.
Time your visit early morning; combine with Kremlin walls, GUM arcades, and Zaryadye Park outlooks.
