KREMLIN, Grand Kremlin Palace
Language: English / USA
The Grand Kremlin Palace is the unmistakable, huge building that stands out, once you get past Cathedral Square, facing the Moskva River. You can't miss it: its white and yellow facade is 125 meters long and its golden dome it is over 40 meters high!
For centuries, the Kremlin had housed other palaces that were the residences of the Russian princes and tsars. But Emperor Nicholas Romanov I, in the first half of the 19th century, decided to build the current building to replace one previously built by Ivan III in the 15th century. He also had the existing Palace of Facets, Terem Palace and the Tsarina's Golden Chamber incorporated into the palace complex, entrusting the work to a team of Russian architects headed by Konstantin Thon.
This is how the complex reached its current size of about 35,000 square meters, with almost 700 rooms.
Here’s a curious detail: counting the rows of windows of the Grand Palace, you’d logically think that it is spread across three floors. In reality there are only two, it's just that the second floor is much higher, as much as 18 meters in some places, so it was "illuminated" by a double row of windows.
Originally, the ground floor mainly housed rooms reserved for the royal family, while the upper floor contained the most important reception areas, including five spectacular rooms for ceremonies and receptions.
The simplicity of the external facade still contrasts with the ornate interior that is like no other, filled with decorations, frescoes and sculptures, chandeliers and precious objects. Only a few lucky people a year, through organized visits that aren't exactly within everyone's reach, can visit some of the rooms in the Grand Palace, but I assure you that it really would be worth it!
As the current official residence of the Russian President, this building still hosts highly important ceremonies and events, such as the signing of international treaties or the awarding of important honors.
An interesting fact: On the upper floor is the magnificent Hall of the Order of St. George, which is over 1200 square meters. It is so big that 40 large chandeliers and six bronze chandeliers weighing 1300 kilos each were installed to illuminate it.
