KREMLIN TREASURES

                 So Much to See

            Stalin opened the Kremlin to the public in 1953. In the Kremlin our first stop was the Armory to view the country’s jewels and treasures. Created in 1806 it is Moscow’s oldest museum and opened to the public in 1911.

The Armory Palace, Moscow’s most fascinating and richest museum, flanks one side of The Kremlin at Red Square. The crown jewels, Catherine the Great’s coronation crown with its 5000 diamonds, religious icons, priceless artifacts, and fabulous world famous Faberge egg collection are housed in the Armory. Gold and silver shine everywhere in bowls, goblets, chalices, and jewelry.  Also included are carriages, royal vestments, robes, and headdresses as well as the 189-carat Orlov diamond.

            We spent a long time walking the many rooms of the Armory while our guide explained different displays as everything was written in Russian. No English subtitles here! At times the glitter was overwhelming. Thousands of pearls decorated gowns, crowns, book covers and more.

            We were all agape at the tiny waists of past female czars as we viewed some of their garments. “My gosh, my thigh is bigger than that waist!” I remarked.

           I was fascinated with the bronze floor to ceiling gate that protected one room. It displayed a coat of arms of each Russian state/district, and was truly a beautiful work of art.

Emperor Cannon

The huge 40-ton cannon, cast in Moscow in 1586, is the oldest and largest cannon in the world, but it has never been fired. The length of this monstrous cannon measures over 15 feet (5 meters). The external diameter of the barrel is 120 centimeters. This unique piece of work was a natural result of the development of the oldest branch of Russia’s craft-foundry business dating back to the 10^th century. The cannon has been moved several times over the past 400 years and since 1960 has stood here in Ivanovskaya Square. The four cannonballs stacked beside it weigh 1000 kilos each.

Emperor Bell  

            Stopping at the 210-ton bell our guide told us, “This is the largest bell in the world. It has stood here for 150 years. This large chunk broke from its own weight and of course it has never been rung. It is a unique monument of Russian art molding of the 18^th century. Many large bells cast in the 16-17^th centuries have broken in various ways.”

            In my wildest dreams I never thought I’d ever visit the Kremlin. It was a fascinating visit and it was wonderful to have a good guide interpret for us. It was at the Kremlin where I saw onion and helmet domes close enough together to really see the difference.