Saint Basil's Cathedral

Russia · architecture · history · iconic

Built by Ivan the Terrible. The cathedral was constructed from 1555 to 1561 on orders from the Russian ruler Ivan the Terrible to celebrate military victories at Kazan and Astrakhan.

Rainbow of colors. The building's famous bright colors weren't completed until 1683, long after the main structure was finished. Today its colorful onion domes are instantly recognizable around the world.

Onion-shaped domes. The cathedral's distinctive bulbous domes on top are called onion domes, and they're a signature feature of Russian Orthodox architecture that looks like nothing else you've ever seen.

Museum today. Saint Basil's Cathedral started as an active church but is now a museum that attracts visitors from every country who want to see this incredible building in person.

Right in the middle. The cathedral sits on Red Square in the historic center of Moscow, making it one of Russia's most important cultural symbols that visitors recognize instantly.