Palace sights in Moscow
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A
Tsaritsyno Palace
On a wooded hill in far southeast Moscow, Tsaritsyno Palace is a modern-day manifestation of the exotic summer home that Catherine the Great began in 1775 but never finished. Architect Vasily Bazhenov worked on the project for 10 years before he was sacked. She hired another architect, Matvey Kazakov, but the project was eventually forgotten as she ran out of money. For hundreds of years, the palace was little more than a shell, until the government finally decided to finish it in 2007.
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Ostankino Palace & TV Tower
The pink-and-white Ostankino Palace, a wooden mansion with a stucco exterior made to resemble stone, was built in the 1790s as the summer pad of Count Nikolai Sheremetev, probably Russia’s richest aristocrat of the time and son of Count Pyotr Sheremetev. Note that the palace is closed on days when it rains or when humidity is high. The lavish interior, with hand-painted wallpaper and intricate parquet floors, houses the count’s art treasures. The ornate rooms include the Italian Pavilion and the Egyptian Hall. The centrepiece is the oval theatre-ballroom built for the Sheremetev troupe of 250 serf actors. In 1801 Count Nikolai married one of the troupe, Praskovia…
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B
Patriarch's Palace
This palace was mostly built in the mid-17th century for Patriarch Nikon, whose reforms sparked the break with the Old Believers. The palace contains an exhibit of 17th-century household items, including jewellery, hunting equipment and furniture. From here you can access the five-domed Church of the Twelve Apostles, which has a gilded, wooden iconostasis and a collection of icons by the leading 17th-century icon painters.
The highlight is perhaps the ceremonial Cross Hall (Krestovaya Palata) where the tsar's and ambassadorial feasts were held. From the 18th century the room was used to produce miro, a holy oil used during church services, which contains over 30 herbal…
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C
Great Kremlin Palace
Housing the Armoury and much more, the 700-room Great Kremlin Palace was built from 1838 to 1849 by Konstantin Thon as an imperial residence. It is now an official residence of the Russian president, used for state visits and receptions. However, unlike Russian emperors, the president doesn't have living quarters here.
The palace incorporates some of the earlier buildings such as the Hall of Facets, Terem Palace and several chapels. Although vast, the building has never received great praise, being criticised as barrack-like and pretentious. Several ceremonial halls are named for saints, including St George, St Vladimir, St Andrew, St Catherine and St Alexander. St…
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D
Terem Palace
The 16th- and 17th-century Terem Palace is the most splendid of the Kremlin palaces. A stone palace built by Vasily III, the living quarters include a dining room, living room, study, bedroom and small chapel. Unfortunately, the palace is closed to the public, but you can glimpse its cluster of 11 golden domes and chequered roof behind and above the Church of the Deposition of the Robe.
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