The Moscow Kremlin, which gained its current appearance in the late 1400s, is guarded by twenty towers of the work of Italian masters, each of which is unique and has its own name and history.
The Moscow Kremlin gained its present appearance in the late 1400s thanks to the efforts of Italian masters. Later, its walls and towers were still under construction and were slightly modified, but their foundation was formed precisely in the 15th century.
In plan, this is an irregular triangle with one very curved Western wall and two relatively even ones - South and East. The walls of the Kremlin are protected by 20 towers of different design and purpose. Each of them has its own name.
South wall
Tainitskaya is the main tower of the South Wall. It was built by the architect Antonio Gilardi (in the Russified version - Anton Fryazin). Height - 38.4 meters. The name comes from a secret well in it. A secret passage to the Moscow River passed through it. At one time, it had a gate that is now laid.
The Annunciation Tower is located to the left of Tainitskaya. Construction time - 1487-1488 years. Height - 32.45 meters. The name comes from the icon of the Annunciation, placed on it.
The First Nameless is one of two towers that have not been given their own name. Height - 34.15 meters. Construction time - 1480s. It is covered with a simple tetrahedral pyramidal tent.
The Second Nameless, having a height of 30.2 meters, is slightly lower than the First. Built at the same time as the First Tower, however, it is somewhat different in design. The upper quadrangle is covered with an octagonal tent, on which stands a weather vane.
Peter's Tower was named after the church of Metropolitan Peter, located nearby. Its second name is Ugreshskaya, obtained from the Kremlin compound of the Ugreshsky monastery.
Beklemishevskaya was erected by another Italian - Marco Ruffo (Russian name - Mark Fryazin). Years of construction - 1487-1488 years. The cylindrical plan completes the eastern part of the South Wall and is the peak of the South-East corner of the Kremlin. Its height is 46.2 meters. She got her name from the adjoining courtyard of the boyar Beklemishev. Later it was renamed Moskvoretskaya by the name of a bridge built nearby.
East wall
Spasskaya is the main tower of the Eastern Wall 71 meters high. Built by Pietro Antonio Solari in 1491. The name comes from two icons of the Savior, located on both sides of the gate. One of them is now restored. Now the tower gates are the main entrance to the Kremlin. Spasskaya is the only one of the Kremlin towers that has a clock. The existing ones (fourth in a row) were established in 1852.
Tsarskaya, the smallest and youngest of all, is located to the left of Spasskaya. It is installed directly on the wall and has a height of only 16.7 meters. Built on the site of a small wooden turret with which Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched the life of Red Square.
Nabatnaya was erected in 1495. Its height is 38 meters. The name is derived from the fact that it housed the bells of the Spassky Nabat, belonging to the fire service of the Kremlin.
Konstantino-Eleninskaya was built by the famous builder of the Spasskaya Tower Pietro Antonio Solari in 1490. The height of the tower is 36.8 meters. The name comes from the church of Saints Constantine and Helena, standing nearby. It is also called Timofeevskaya, on behalf of the gate previously located at this place.
The Senate got its name in 1787 after the construction of the Senate Palace nearby, although it was built in 1491. Height - 34.3 meters.
Nikolskaya, built in the same year as the Senate, was rebuilt in the 19th century under the Gothic style, therefore it stands out from the Kremlin tower ensemble. Named after Nikola Mozhaiskogo, whose icon is located above the gate.
Corner Arsenal - a corner tower between the East and West walls. Located at the top of the northern corner of the Kremlin. Posted by Pietro Antonio Solari. Year of construction - 1492. Height - 60.2 meters. The name was obtained after the completion of the Arsenal building at the beginning of the XVIII century. His second name (Sobakin Tower) was assigned to her on behalf of the Sobakin boyars, whose estate was nearby.
