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It is the domes that make this, and other Russian Orthodox architecture unique. Saint Basil's
has a total of ten towers with domes. The largest is at the center of the cathedral known as the
Church of the Feast of the Pokhrov.
There are four more, each topping a church, located on a cardinal point, north, south, east,
and west. Then an additional four at the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest points.
Each of these eight churches represents an important historical event in Russian history. Then
there is one that does not stand on a rose point. It was built in 1555 and is located over the
grave of Saint Basil. It became part of the Cathedral in 1588.
The cathedral may have been designed by Russian architects Posnik and Barma. But the
early records are confusing, and they may be a single person. There is also a legend that the ca-
thedral was designed by an Italian architect who was blinded so he could never create a more
beautiful building. The root of this legend may lie in the fact that between 1475 and 1510 Ital-
ian architects were employed to restore the Kremlin and two of its churches.
In some ways, it is amazing that the cathedral has survived as long as it has. Two of the
world's most ruthless leaders – Napoleon and Stalin – tried to destroy it. Napoleon tried to burn
it down with little success. Stalin wanted to have it razed so his military parades would have
more room. Another Moscow legend has it that the demolition was stopped by an architect who
threatened to slit his own throat on the cathedral steps in protest.
CATHEDRAL OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
If there's one thing the Russians excel at it's religious architecture. Across the country thou-
sands of churches abandoned under Soviet rule are now being restored. There are a few, how-
ever, that escaped decay because they were thought to be of special value to the people. One of
them is the Cathedral of Saint Michel the Archangel – one of three cathedrals in or near the
Kremlin, and one of two actually on Kremlin grounds.
Like most other Russian Orthodox churches it features the special onion domes topped by
gilded crosses that are commonplace. But this wasn't built by a Russian. Italian architect Alevi-
sio Novi was charged with rebuilding the great cathedral in Cathedral Square, also known as
the "City of God."
Moscow was to become the Third Rome, after Constantinople and, of course, the original
Rome. Though at a casual glance it appears authentic Russian, his design is Italian Renaissance
at its fundamentals even though he was required to make it palatable to Byzantine tastes. Inside,
the tomb of Ivan the Terrible and dozens of other members of the Russian Royal family line the
walls.
THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
Built by Charles Barry and August Pugin in flamboyant neo-Gothic style between 1837 and
1860, the Houses of Parliament provide chambers, lobbies and offices for politicians, linked by
some two miles (3.2 km) of passages. In the House of Commons, the Speaker presides over de-
bates, the Government and Opposition facing each other over the dispatch boxes, with Minis-
ters on the front benches. Bills are passed from here to the House of Lords, where some are
amended.
The Houses of Parliament are often referred to as the Palace of Westminster, having been
constructed on the site of the home of monarchs from Edward I to Henry VIII. The old palace
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