KREMLIN, Cathedral Of The Archangel

The Cathedral of the Archangel is dedicated to Michael the Archangel, patron saint of the Muscovite princes and tsars. This temple differs from the surrounding buildings because, although it is clearly built in a Russian-Byzantine architectural style, it has various details, especially decorative features, that are reminiscent of the Renaissance palaces of Venice.

The reason is simple: the building was designed by a skilled Italian architect, Aloisio Lamberti, dubbed Novyi in Russian, meaning new.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the current cathedral replaced the original one from the 14th century, which was now too small and decrepit to contain all the tombs for which it was intended. Since the time it was built, this was where all the great princes and tsars had been buried. Ivan III, who wanted it to be rebuilt, was the very first to be buried in the new cathedral among the tombs of his ancestors.

Inside, you will find the tombs of other great historical figures, such as Ivan IV, known as the Terrible, who rests here next to his sons, including Ivan Ivanovič who was killed by his own father, and the little Dmitry  who was assassinated at only 9 years old and later canonized a saint after several miracles occurred from praying at his grave....