Moscow.

     At first it was a wooden fort. Under Dmitry Donskoy the Kremlin was built of white stone. During the reign of Ivan III the walls of white stone were replaced by new redbrick walls and towers. The Tzar invited Italian architects to construct the cathedrals. The Assumptions Cathedral was built in 1475-1479. The Russian Tzar and Emperors were crowned here. The Archangel Cathedral was burial place of the Russian Princes and Tzars. The Annunciation Cathedral was erected in 1484. It is famous for the icons painted by Andrey Rublev and his apprentices.

     Ivan the Great Bell Tower, one of the most remarkable structures of the 16-th century, rises in the center of the Kremlin. It unites all the Kremlin Cathedrals into a majestic ensemble.

     On the stone pedestal at the foot of the Bell Tower stands the Tzar-Bell - the largest bell in the world. Not far from it one can see the Tzar-Cannon (-Gun).

     Another fine example of Russian architecture is the Faceted Palace. It was built in 1487-1491.

     One of the well-known Kremlin museums is the Armoury Chamber. It was built in 1851. The famous goldencap of Monomach, the first Russian imperia crown of Catherine II, was made of gilt silver and many other precious historical items are exhibited there.