The Moscow Kremlin, which received its present appearance in the late 1400s, is guarded by twenty towers made by Italian masters, each of which is unique and has its own name and history.
The Moscow Kremlin acquired its present form in the late 1400s thanks to the efforts of Italian craftsmen. Later, its walls and towers were still being completed and gradually modified, but their basis was formed precisely in the 15th century.
In terms of plan, it is an irregular triangle with one very curved Western wall and two relatively even - South and East. The walls of the Kremlin are guarded by 20 towers of different design and purpose. Each of them has its own name.
South wall
Taynitskaya 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 located in it. A secret passage to the Moskva River passed through it. At one time it had a gate, which is now closed.
The Annunciation Tower is to the left of Taynitskaya. Construction time - 1487-1488 years. Height - 32, 45 meters. The name comes from the icon of the Annunciation, which was 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, with a height of 30.2 meters, slightly lower than the First. It was built at the same time as the First Tower, but it has a slightly different design. The upper quadrangle is covered with an octagonal tent with a weather vane on it.
The Petrovskaya Tower got its name from the Church of Metropolitan Peter, which was located nearby. Its second name is Ugreshskaya, derived from the Kremlin courtyard of the Ugreshsky monastery.
Beklemishevskaya was built by another Italian - Marco Ruffo (Russian name - Mark Fryazin). The years of construction are 1487-1488. The cylindrical structure completes the eastern part of the South Wall and is the top of the South-East corner of the Kremlin. Its height is 46.2 meters. It got its name from the adjoining courtyard of the boyar Beklemishev. Later it was renamed to Moskvoretskaya after the name of the 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 has now been restored. Now the tower gates are the main entrance to the Kremlin. Spasskaya is the only Kremlin tower that has a clock. The existing ones (the fourth in a row) were installed in 1852.
Tsarskaya, the smallest and youngest of all, is located to the left of Spasskaya. It is installed directly on the wall and is only 16.7 meters high. Built on the site of a small wooden turret, from which Tsar Ivan the Terrible watched the life of Red Square.
Nabatnaya was built in 1495. Its height is 38 meters. The name is derived from the fact that the bells of the Spassky alarm bell, which belonged to the fire service of the Kremlin, were located on it.
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, which stood nearby. It is also called Timofeevskaya, on behalf of the gate that was previously located at this place.
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, erected in the same year as the Senatskaya, was rebuilt in the 19th century for the Gothic style, therefore it stands out from the tower ensemble of the Kremlin. Named after Nikola Mozhaisky, whose icon is located above the gate.
Corner Arsenalnaya - a corner tower between the Eastern and Western walls. Located at the top of the northern corner of the Kremlin. Author - Pietro Antonio Solari. The year of construction is 1492. Height - 60.2 meters. The name was given after the completion of the construction of the Arsenal building at the beginning of the 18th century. Its second name (Sobakin's tower) was assigned to it on behalf of the Sobakin boyars, whose estate stood nearby.
Western wall
Troitskaya is the main tower of the Western Wall. The author is the Italian architect Aloisio da Milano (the Russian version is Aleviz Fryazin). After Spasskaya, she was considered the second most important in the Kremlin. Year of construction - 1495. Height - 80 meters. Has a gate through which visitors can enter the Kremlin. The current name was received in 1658 after the construction of the Trinity courtyard.
Kutafya Tower forms a single defensive complex with Troitskaya. It is the only surviving bridgehead of the Kremlin that used to guard the fortress bridges. It is connected with the Troitskaya inclined bridge. Builder - Aloisio da Milano. The time of construction is 1516. Height - 13.5 meters. The name comes from the ancient Slavic word "kut", meaning "corner", "shelter".
The middle Arsenalnaya was built in the years 1493-1495. Height - 38.9 meters. It got its name from the nearby Arsenal building. The second name is the Faceted Tower.
The Commandant's Tower received its present name in the 19th century from the residence of the Moscow commandant, located in the chambers of the Miloslavsky boyars. The time of construction is 1495. Height - 41, 25 m.
The armory tower 38.9 m high was built in the same years. Previously, it was called Konyushennaya from the Konyushenny yard, which was located nearby. The current name was given in the 19th century from the Armory, built next to it.
Borovitskaya was built in 1490. Author - Pietro Antonio Solari. Height - 54 meters. It has a gate through which government corteges now pass. The name is tied to the hill on which a pine forest previously grew. Her middle name the Baptist comes from the name of the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, which was located nearby, as well as the icon of St. John the Baptist, which was located above the gate.
The Vodovzvodnaya Tower, round in plan, is located at the top of the South-Western corner of the Kremlin. Year of construction - 1488. Builder - Antonio Gilardi. Height - 61, 25 meters. This is the main building that supplied water to the Kremlin. The name was given in 1633 after a water-lifting machine was installed in it. A secret passage to the Moskva River passed through the tower. The second name of the Sviblov Tower is associated with the Sviblov boyar family, who oversaw the process of its construction.
