Churches Of The Grand & Small Ascension

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  • Address
    Bolshaya Nikitskaya ul, Arbar
  • Transport
    underground rail: Arbatskaya

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Lonely Planet review

In 1831 the poet Alexander Pushkin married Natalia Goncharova in the elegant Church of the Grand Ascension, on the western side of ploshchad Nikitskie Vorota. Six years later he died in St Petersburg, defending her honour in a duel. Such passion, such romance... The church is frequently closed, but the celebrated couple is featured in the Rotunda Fountain, erected in 1999 to commemorate the poet's 100th birthday.

Just down the street, the festive Church of the Small Ascension sits on the corner of Voznesensky pereulok. Built in the early 17th century, it features white washed walls and stone embellishments carved in a primitive style.